Reading Time: 2 minutes Meat processor Maple Leaf Foods plans to boost its space in the pepperoni and dry-cured meats market with a deal for Montreal-based Viau Foods. Toronto-based Maple Leaf announced Tuesday it will pay $215 million, including $30 million in Maple Leaf shares, for Viau, which today bills itself as “Canada’s most important independent producer of pepperoni.” […] Read more
Maple Leaf to buy Quebec pepperoni processor
Klassen: Improving margins underpin feeder market
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearlings advanced $2-$5 while calves were unchanged to $3 higher. April live cattle futures are in a bull market; I’ve had many calls from producers and all I tell them is that April live cattle futures are in a bull market. Just as important, a market will not culminate […] Read more
Brazil’s regulator rejects JBS settlement deal
Reading Time: 2 minutes Sao Paulo | Reuters — The Brazilian securities regulator CVM said on Wednesday it had rejected a settlement with the world’s largest meatpacker JBS SA and major shareholders in an insider trading case because of the severity of the allegations. Wesley Batista, the former CEO of JBS, and his brother Joesley are the largest individual […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle market holding value
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were steady to as much as $4 higher while calf values traded within $5 on either side of unchanged. Current feedlot margins are hovering around break-even, but profitability will improve during October and November, given the recent strength in the deferred live cattle futures. Therefore, short-keep feeders […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market eyes April live cattle futures
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded steady to $3 higher. Strength in the deferred live cattle futures, particularly the April contract, spilt over into the cash feeder market. Limited supplies of yearlings also contributed to the firmer tone. Feedlots have been patiently securing heavier replacements, but we’re now on the home […] Read more
Trucker shortage troublesome for Prairie cattle industry
Reading Time: 4 minutes CNS Canada — As large volumes of cattle make their way to western Canadian auction marts this fall, buyers are having problems finding truckers to haul them. Those problems may get worse in the future, as federal regulations for cattle hauling could possibly change. “I would say it’s worse this year than other years so […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market waiting for direction
Reading Time: 2 minutes Average western Canadian feeder prices were relatively unchanged from week-ago levels; however, the yearling market in southern Alberta traded $3-$5 higher as feedlot operators focused on sourcing local cattle. High-quality yearlings are coming on the market and steady demand was evident across the Prairies. Strength in the deferred live cattle futures along with the deterioration […] Read more
Strategically grass-fed
In the heart of Alberta feedlot country, this farm secures its future in value-add
Reading Time: 8 minutes The story of Trail’s End Beef reads like the script for a reality television show. First, there’s a female protagonist — city-raised, private-school educated, a show jumper with an MA in history, a book author. She’s tall, lanky, blonde, engaging, a go-getter. Vegetarian. Then, there’s the male lead, also tall, also lanky. Raised on a […] Read more
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
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
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
