Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were relatively unchanged from week-ago levels. Many auction barns are in holiday mode and the shortened holiday week further shrunk market activity. In any case, feedlot operations on both sides of the border are focused on selling fed cattle and assessing current financial damage rather than bringing in replacements. The […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle market experiences thin trade
Canadian beef follows tricky paths to international markets
Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — Canadian beef continues to find its way to markets around the world, but while a new deal with Mexico has brought smiles to the cattle industry, questions remain surrounding Canada’s proposed trade deal with the European Union. Britain’s recent referendum to exit the European Union has thrown into question whether the Comprehensive […] Read more
Online U.S. cattle auction halts activity
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters –– Organizers of an online U.S. cattle auction that ranchers and traders had hoped would help restore transparency to livestock pricing nationwide said on Wednesday they would suspend activity indefinitely after just four sessions. The Fed Cattle Exchange, which held its first live feeder cattle auction on May 25, determined that it […] Read more
Mexico to accept OTM Canadian beef this fall
Reading Time: 2 minutes Mexico will resume “fully normalized” trade in beef products with Canada starting Oct. 1, accepting imports of Canadian beef from cattle over 30 months old (OTMs). The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association and Canadian Meat Council announced the move in separate releases Tuesday, following a joint statement by Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and Prime Minister Justin […] Read more
Klassen: Large beef supplies weigh on feeder market
Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian feeder cattle prices experienced a week-over-week decline of $8-$12 on average while isolated sales dropped nearly $20. The sharp fall in the fed cattle market was the main reason for the deteriorating buying interest. Just when feedlots thought the worst was over, the market gave them another dose of reality. The retail market […] Read more
Breeding cattle get market access to Turkey
Reading Time: < 1 minute Exporters of Canadian breeding cattle expect to see another $4.5 million per year in business from a new agreement for market access to Turkey, according to the federal government. Canada’s Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay and Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland on Monday announced an agreement with Turkey on export certificates for Canadian breeding cattle effective “immediately.” […] Read more
Big U.S. cattle placements in May point to more meat in Q3
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Cattle placed in U.S. feedlots for fattening surged by 10 per cent in May, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Friday in data that suggested beef supplies will be ample and prices potentially lower in the third quarter of 2016. However, analysts polled by Reuters predicted the spike in placements. […] Read more
Earls locks in Canadian beef supplies
Reading Time: 3 minutes Vancouver-based dining chain Earls has enlisted a handful of Canadian ranchers and processors to supply beef to about half its stores while matching its criteria for animal care and “ethical farming practices.” The move comes about six weeks after Earls retreated from a plan to source its beef from Creekstone Farms, choosing the Kansas company […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market enters summer doldrums
Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian feeder cattle markets experienced a softer tone over the past week as many auction barns are in summer holiday mode. Weakness in live and feeder cattle futures set a negative tone and by Friday, Alberta packers had dropped bids by nearly $12 on a dressed basis. Feedlot operators were once again on the […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle market holds value
Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were steady to $5 higher over the past week on limited volumes. Stragglers from backgrounding operations and late-blooming calves set a reserved tone amongst buyers with large price variations at different regions of the Prairies. Feedlot margins are hovering around breakeven and there appears to be solid demand underneath the […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
