Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Cattle placed into U.S. feedlots in December slipped one per cent from a year earlier to their lowest level since 1998, based on a U.S. Department of Agriculture report Friday, but were slightly above average industry expectations. Feedlots finally purchased less-expensive calves, or feeder cattle, that had grown heavier on healthy […] Read more
U.S. feedlot cattle count not as low as expected
Argentine government to allow beef imports
Reading Time: < 1 minute Buenos Aires | Reuters –– Argentina will allow beef imports if the recent opening of the export market results in a domestic shortage of steaks and burgers, farm minister Ricardo Buryaile told local radio Thursday. The country lifted restrictions on beef exports after President Mauricio Macri, elected in November on an open-markets platform, was inaugurated […] Read more
Klassen: Uncertainty causes feeder market volatility
Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian feeder cattle prices traded steady to as much as $10 lower compared to week-ago levels. Feedlot hands are contending with adverse winter conditions and cattle travelling farther distances were down $6 to $12 in non-major feeding regions. Feeder markets were slightly softer Monday through Wednesday; however, feedlot operators were quick to back away […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle jump on renewed buying interest
Reading Time: 2 minutes During the first full week of January, western Canadian feeder cattle traded $10-$15 higher compared to late December. In some cases, calves under 600 lbs. were $15-$20 higher. Strength in the nearby fed cattle market, along with the firmer tone to live cattle futures, set a positive tone. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle in […] Read more
Packers approved to move beef, pork to Ukraine
Reading Time: 2 minutes Inspectors have approved 15 Canadian beef and pork processing plants to export to Ukraine, more than doubling the number of Canadian meat plants able to ship to the country. Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay and Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland on Monday announced Ukraine has, essentially, approved beef and pork exports from any Canadian federally-registered establishment […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Feeder cattle rise on cash gains, wintry weather
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. feeder cattle futures rose on Monday, reversing earlier declines and extending steep gains of recent days as wintry weather hampered animal weight gains and feed prices tumbled, traders and analysts said. Live cattle futures steadied after falling sharply early in the session at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, as big declines […] Read more
Klassen: Fed cattle bounce stabilizes feeders
Reading Time: 2 minutes Alberta fed cattle prices jumped to three-month highs, reaching $174 over the past week, setting a positive tone for feeders to start off the New Year. Retailers appear to be featuring beef at discounted prices, alleviating the bloated beef pipeline. Wholesale prices also ratcheted higher, reflecting the improving demand. While pen closeouts remain in negative […] Read more
Somali workers fired at U.S. beef plant in prayer dispute
Reading Time: 2 minutes Denver | Reuters — Nearly 200 workers, mostly Somali immigrants, have been fired from a meat-packing plant in Colorado after staging a walkout to protest what they said were insufficient prayer accommodations, the company and Islamic advocacy groups said Thursday. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said the workers were treated in a “discriminatory manner” […] Read more
Korea’s temporary ban on Canadian beef lifted
Reading Time: 2 minutes South Korea’s temporary ban on imports of Canadian beef and veal, imposed after Canada’s discovery of a 19th case of BSE in February, has been lifted as of Wednesday. Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay and Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland announced the Korean government’s decision Thursday. South Korea had re-imposed its ban on Canadian beef after the […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Cash price spike drives CME live cattle higher
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures finished well into positive territory on Wednesday, led by the steep climb in prices for cash cattle, traders said. Spot December, which will expire on Thursday, closed 2.8 cents/lb. higher at 133 cents, and February ended 1.2 cents higher at 136.7 (all figures US$). “Today […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
