U.S. livestock: Cattle, hog futures mixed on spreading, cash declines

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters – U.S. livestock futures were widely mixed on Thursday, with nearby live cattle and lean hog contracts hitting multi-week lows in bear-spreading as traders moved into deferred positions. Worries of weaker prices in cash markets for cattle and hogs further weighed on front-month contracts while the third of the five-day Standard & […] Read more

Photo: Canada Beef Inc.

U.S. livestock: Live cattle futures slump 3rd straight session

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle lost ground for a third day in a row on Wednesday, led by lower early-week cash prices, traders said. Funds involved in CME livestock futures that track the Standard & Poor’s Goldman Sachs Commodity Index periodically sold, or “rolled,” December long positions mainly into deferred months. […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: Cash price unease weakens CME live cattle futures

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle on Tuesday settled lower, pressured by sell stops and caution in advance of cash prices later this week, traders said. Funds involved in CME livestock futures that track the Standard & Poor’s Goldman Sachs Commodity Index sold, or “rolled,” December long positions mainly into February and […] Read more

Photo: Canada Beef Inc.

Klassen: Beef demand drives feeder market higher

Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, Western Canadian yearling prices were $5 higher on average; calves traded $3 to as much as $6 above week ago levels. Strength in fed cattle prices quickly spilled over into the feeder complex, especially on shorter keep replacements. On Friday, Alberta packers were buying fed cattle from $247 to $250 on […] Read more


Photo: Canada Beef Inc.

U.S. livestock: Profit-taking undercuts CME live cattle futures

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle closed lower on Monday, hit by profit-taking after last week’s sharply higher cash prices drove some trading months up by their 3-cents per pound daily price limit on Friday. Funds “rolled” the December contract and simultaneously bought deferred ahead of similar moves on Tuesday. Tuesday is […] Read more

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U.S. livestock: Live cattle futures retreat from 5-month high

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle on Thursday settled lower, pressured by profit-taking after futures posted new highs for the contract and reached their highest level in almost five months, said traders. December futures led decliners after funds “rolled” that month and at the same time purchased deferred contracts ahead of similar […] Read more


(Dave Bedard photo)

Cattle traceability to pay off in Cargill pilot

Reading Time: 3 minutes UPDATED, Nov. 2 — A pilot program running through one of Canada’s biggest beef packing plants aims to test systems that can show consumers the exact path of their beef from ranch to restaurant — and reward cattle producers for their trouble. Cargill on Wednesday announced a new year-long Canadian Beef Sustainability Acceleration pilot, with […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder cattle market remains firm

Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian yearling markets were trading $3 to as much as $6 above week-ago levels while calf prices were relatively unchanged. The Canadian dollar was under pressure all week, closing Friday at US77.85 cents, the lowest levels since mid-July. At the same time, April live cattle futures made fresh contract highs, reflecting a week-over-week gain […] Read more


James Hargrave (second from right) in September 2016 with provincial Agriculture Minister Oneil Carlier, Medicine Hat MLA Bob Wanner and Environment Minister Shannon Phillips. (AlbertaGrazingLease.ca)

Communities rally around producers in wildfires’ wake

Reading Time: 2 minutes Ranchers, farmers and rural residents who suffered losses, injuries and more in recent wildfires in southeastern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan are seeing support from neighbours and beyond. Alongside a number of online campaigns launched in support of affected farmers and families, the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association on Monday launched a wildfire relief fund to help […] Read more

(Canada Beef Inc. photo)

Klassen: Feeder cattle market loses momentum

Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were unchanged while calves traded $3 lower to $3 higher. Feedlot operators pulled in the reins and realized the market may have overextended itself. Feeder cattle prices are now at levels where margins are negative in the deferred positions. Order buyers could feel the momentum subside this […] Read more