Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters –– The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Thursday it will require meat packers to report cattle purchases they make through online auctions to the agency starting next week, a move that stoked traders’ hopes for more transparent markets. USDA will begin including transactions from auctions on the Fed Cattle Exchange in pricing […] Read more
USDA requires meat packers to report online cattle auction deals
Sobeys locks in Atlantic Beef for P.E.I. stores
Reading Time: 3 minutes Prince Edward Island’s long-beleaguered packing plant, Atlantic Beef Products, has now ramped up its slaughter and processing capacity to meet a new commitment from grocery chain Sobeys. The Nova Scotia-based grocery chain on Tuesday announced ABP’s Island View Farms is now the “primary” brand for beef sold at the five Sobeys, five Co-op and three […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle market experiences mixed tone
Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian feeder cattle markets experienced a diverse tone across the Prairies, with notable buying interest surfacing on yearlings. Compared to seven days earlier, prices for yearlings in southern Alberta were $5-$7 higher on average, as feedlots focused on purchasing local cattle. In southern Alberta, larger-frame lower-flesh black steers weighing 900 lbs. were quoted at […] Read more
Western Feedlots closure seen hurting prices
Reading Time: 2 minutes Winnipeg | Reuters — The closure of one of Canada’s biggest cattle feedlots is likely to depress prices of young cattle and the grains used to fatten them, and may increase sales to the U.S., industry officials say. Alberta-based Western Feedlots said Wednesday it will shut feeding operations early in 2017, citing poor market conditions […] Read more
China now taking Canadian bone-in beef
Reading Time: 2 minutes China’s premier has announced the country will accept bone-in Canadian beef from cattle under 30 months of age (UTMs) starting today, according to the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. The expanded access is expected to add another $10 million per year in exports to China in the short term, the CCA said, given that Canada’s beef cattle […] Read more
China to conditionally lift ban on some U.S. beef
Reading Time: 2 minutes Beijing | Reuters –– China has conditionally lifted an import ban on some shipments of U.S. boneless beef and beef on the bone, the country’s agriculture ministry and quality watchdog said on Thursday. The lifting of the ban applies to imports of beef from animals under 30 months old (UTMs), according to a statement posted […] Read more
Major Alberta cattle feeder set to shut feedlots
Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters — One of Canada’s biggest cattle feeding operations, Western Feedlots, said Wednesday it will close feeding operations after marketing the cattle it currently owns, due to poor market conditions. Closure of Western’s feeding operations, likely early in 2017 once its current cattle are sold, will make it more difficult for ranchers to find markets […] Read more
Subway to ramp up Canadian meat sourcing
Reading Time: < 1 minute One of the biggest fast-food players operating in Canada has pledged to lock in Canadian suppliers for some of its Canadian stores’ meat supplies by the end of 2016. The U.S.-based sandwich chain Subway said Tuesday it has now introduced “Canadian-raised” ham, turkey and shaved steak at its Canadian restaurants and is “committed” to sourcing […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market stabilizes
Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian feeder cattle prices traded steady to $5 higher over the past week largely due to stronger U.S cattle markets. Alberta packers were relatively quiet but fed cattle prices in the U.S. southern Plains jumped US$5, reaching US$110. This sudden reversal caused Canadian feedlot operators to hold out for higher prices and the positive […] Read more
JBS chiefs return to posts
Reading Time: < 1 minute The CEO and board chairman of the world’s biggest beef exporting firm say they’ve received clearance from a Brazilian federal court to return to their positions, after being ordered off the job last week. Brothers Wesley Batista and Joesley Batista, the CEO and board chairman respectively at Brazilian meat packing giant JBS, were among several […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
