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
Western Feedlots closure seen hurting prices
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
Four keys to successful calf preconditioning
Veterinarian Mark Hilton shared his experiences working with an Indiana producer who co-operated with Purdue University on a preconditioning project from 1999 through 2009. When they boiled it down, four points came to the forefront as keys to success that could be transferred to other farms.
Klassen: Feeder market drops on fed cattle weakness
Reading Time: 2 minutes Alberta packers were buying fed cattle in the range of $128-$130 this past week — the lowest levels since December 2013 and down nearly $18 from a month ago. Weekly beef production continues to defy expectations, bludgeoning feeding margins across the Prairies. Western Canadian feeder cattle markets were quick to respond, trading $8-$10 below week-ago[...]
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Klassen: Feeder market softens
Reading Time: 2 minutes Hope deferred makes the heart sick, goes the old proverb, and there is no greater example than in the cattle complex. Placid feedlot operators watched in dismay as fed cattle sold in the range of $133-$135 this past week, down approximately $6 from week-ago levels and $10 below breakeven pen closeout values. The stomach-churning fed[...]
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A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
