(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder market reflects vulnerability

Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded within $5 on either side of unchanged. Strength was noted in the major feeding regions of Alberta while subdued buying interest was noted in other regions of the Prairies. Major operations focused on local cattle, especially in southern Alberta. Feature sales attracted larger crowds which enhanced […] Read more

Cattle graze at a military base in Florida. (Wirepec/iStock/Getty Images)

Florida finds atypical BSE case

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — A six-year-old beef cow in Florida tested positive for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), the U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Wednesday. The animal tested positive for atypical H-type BSE on Aug. 26 at the Colorado State University’s veterinary diagnostic laboratory, as part of routine surveillance of cattle that are found to […] Read more


Agrident’s AWR100 handheld RFID tag reader. (Agrident.com)

Allflex buys RFID reader maker Agrident

Reading Time: < 1 minute One of the world’s biggest livestock identification firms has expanded its share of the radio frequency ID (RFID) tag reader market with a deal to buy German manufacturer Agrident. Allflex, whose parent firm the Allflex Group rebranded in February under the name Antelliq, announced Aug. 21 it has bought Agrident for an undisclosed sum. Agrident, […] Read more

(File photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Prairies’ dry weather may stem U.S. cattle stampede north

Reading Time: 2 minutes Winnipeg | Reuters — Parched pastures and crops in Western Canada are driving up cattle-feeding costs, and farmers and analysts expect the changing economics to stem a recent stampede of U.S. cattle being brought over the border. Canada imported 65,035 head of cattle from the U.S. from January through June, nearly double the pace of […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder cattle market softens

Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were $2-$5 lower on average while calf markets were relatively unchanged. Weakness in deferred live cattle futures, along with stronger barley prices, set a negative tone. Most of the Prairies have received less than 40 per cent of normal precipitation over the last 30 days, but this […] Read more

Photo: File

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle futures down for 3rd day

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters – U.S. live cattle futures fell Friday for a third straight session, with the benchmark CME October contract notching a six-week low on disappointing cash cattle values, traders said. Slaughter-ready cattle traded Thursday at $109 per cwt in Texas and Kansas, down from $109 to $110.50 last week. Some traders had been […] Read more


File photo

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle futures decline after weaker cash trade

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters – U.S. live cattle futures declined on Thursday after cash cattle traded in Kansas and Texas at mostly lower prices than a week ago, traders said. CME Group feeder cattle futures edged higher while lean hog futures ended mixed, with the nearby October contract down more than 2 cents per cwt, or […] Read more

Barley. (Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder market eyes feed grain prices

Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets were $4 on either side of unchanged and the market was quite variable across the Prairies. Strength was noted early in the week but feedlot operators pulled in the reins on Thursday and Friday. Strength in the barley market along with lower feeder cattle prices south of […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Strong demand drives yearlings higher

Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $2-$3 higher, with quality packages advancing $4-$6. Feedlot operators shrugged off the weaker live cattle futures as feed grain prices came under pressure. Cattle brokers were carrying a full deck of orders, which allowed for limited slippage. Feedlots are anxious to secure ownership early in the […] Read more

Ben Fox. (File photo/Supplied)

Manitoba Beef Producers president steps down

Reading Time: < 1 minute The race to become the federal Conservatives’ candidate in Dauphin has claimed a second Manitoba farm leader. Dauphin-area rancher Ben Fox, president of Manitoba Beef Producers and the District 13 representative on the group’s board, announced Tuesday he had resigned as MBP president to seek a “federal party nomination.” MBP didn’t say which nomination Fox […] Read more