Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters — Four of the largest U.S. beef-packing companies were accused in a lawsuit on Tuesday of violating federal antitrust law by conspiring to drive down prices they paid ranchers for cattle, even as retail beef prices hovered near record levels. Tyson Foods, Cargill, the JBS USA unit of Brazil’s JBS and National Beef Packing […] Read more
R-CALF suit alleges U.S. packers conspired to suppress fed cattle prices
Klassen: Feeder market remains volatile
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $3-$5 on either side of unchanged. Many auction barns were closed last week and the ones holding sales had smaller numbers. Quality packages of yearlings were on the higher end of the range while smaller groups of fleshier replacements were discounted. Alberta feedlots were focusing […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Lean hog futures lower, live cattle follow suit
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters – U.S. hog futures declined on Monday on a mix of softer cash hog prices and technical selling after a run-up to contract highs earlier this month, traders said. Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures followed hogs lower. The benchmark June lean hogs contract fell roughly 3 percent, settling down 2.975 cents at 93.775 […] Read more
Klassen: Alberta demand drives feeder market higher
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were $2-$4 higher while calves were relatively unchanged. Stronger fed cattle prices in the deferred positions along with lower new-crop barley values resulted in a firmer tone. We’re in the last half of April and quality cattle will be hard to come by in 30 days; this […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market incorporates risk premium
Reading Time: 2 minutes Fed and feeder cattle markets have incorporated a risk premium due to the uncertainty in beef production. Adverse weather has plagued much of the U.S. Midwest over the past couple of months and the six- to 10-day forecast calls for above-normal precipitation. Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $2-$3 higher on average […] Read more
Few herds remain in B.C. bovine TB probe
Reading Time: 2 minutes The federal investigation into an outbreak of bovine tuberculosis affecting four animals in a domestic British Columbia cattle herd has pulled back to include just seven properties. As of Monday, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s probe included one herd each in B.C. and Saskatchewan and four herds in Alberta under movement controls, along with the […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market balancing many variables
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded steady to $3 higher while calves were $4 lower to $5 higher depending on the region. Weakness in the live and feeder cattle futures contributed to the variable price structure; however, Alberta packers were buying fed cattle in the range of $268-$270 on a dressed basis, […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market incorporates risk premium following U.S. floods
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to the previous week, western Canadian feeder cattle sold steady to $4 higher the week ending March 23. Favourable spring weather enhanced demand for yearlings from major finishing operations; Lethbridge-area markets were notably $3-$5 higher as feedlots focused on local cattle. While feeding margins remain in negative territory, strength in the deferred live cattle […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market continues consolidation pattern
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $3-$5 on either side of unchanged. The market was quite variable across the Prairies. Demand from south of the border evaporated due to adverse weather while southern Alberta experienced favourable spring conditions. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle at $260 on a dressed basis, up […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market holds value
Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were relatively unchanged compared to seven days earlier. Buying interest for yearlings was somewhat stronger while calves in the eastern Prairie regions were softer. Moderate temperatures are in the seven-day forecast for most of Western Canada, so the risk discount due to adverse weather has evaporated. Barley jumped an additional […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
