(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder markets experience stronger demand

Reading Time: 2 minutes For the week ending October 5, Western Canadian prices for grass yearlings were steady to as much as $10 higher while values for backgrounded yearlings were relatively unchanged. Calf markets were quite variable with preconditioned 650-800 pound calves trading $4-$8 above week-ago levels. Prices for  non-weaned bawlers were relatively unchanged.

Photo: ARS/USDA

U.S. Livestock: CME lean hogs hit 5-mth peak on demand, cattle range bound

Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures advanced on Monday to the highest point in nearly five months on technical buying and seasonal strength, analysts said. Live cattle futures also edged higher on a strong cash market, although large cattle weights and beef demand worries amid a slumping stock market limited gains and […] Read more


(Dave Bedard photo)

McDonald’s sues major beef producers in US price-fixing lawsuit

Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters – McDonald’s has sued JBS, Tyson Foods and other leading meat processing and packing companies for allegedly conspiring for years to limit beef supplies, boosting their profits while causing the fast food giant to pay artificially higher prices. McDonald’s said in a lawsuit filed on Friday in Brooklyn federal court that the meatpackers, also including Cargill […] Read more

Photo: File

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures rise on technical buying, economic news

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures rose and feeder cattle touched a two-month high on Friday on technical trading, with stronger-than-expected September jobs data indicating good consumer demand, analysts said. Hog futures touched their highest level in four months before retreating. Benchmark CME December live cattle futures LCZ24 settled up 0.600 cent at […] Read more



A tugboat passes shipping containers being unloaded and stacked on a pier at Port Newark, New Jersey, U.S., November 19, 2021.
 Photo: Reuters/Mike Segar/File

U.S. livestock: CME cattle futures fall as U.S. port strike continues

Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange livestock futures fell on technical trading as the session ended on Thursday, according to analysts, after trading both sides earlier in the day. Benchmark CME December live cattle futures LCZ24 settled down 1.300 cents at 186.400 cents per pound. CME November feeder cattle futures FCX24 ended down 0.425 cent at 248.125 cents […] Read more


Photo: File

Study indicates methane emissions from dairy farms higher than previously thought

Reading Time: 3 minutes To reach net zero by 2050, the UK must reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture and methane emissions from farm livestock pose a thorny problem. Ruminants such as cattle and sheep emit methane from their digestive systems and their manure. Scientists are trying to find ways to reduce these methane emissions without wiping out large parts of […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Western Canadian calf markets percolate higher

Reading Time: 2 minutes Strength in the deferred live cattle futures has spilt over into the feeder complex. Alberta and Saskatchewan placements in the lighter weight categories are down from year-ago levels which is resulting in stronger Alberta fed cattle basis levels for next spring.  These are the main factors influencing the calf markets in Western Canada.