Reading Time: < 1 minute Argentina's beef exports during the first nine months of this year rose to their highest level in 57 years, as shipments of one of the South American country's best-known food staples grew among buyers in the United States and neighboring Chile.
Argentine beef exports hit highest level in more than five decades
Klassen: Feeder cattle prices digesting uncertainty
Defensive tone likely through January
Reading Time: 2 minutes The feeder cattle market was very quiet during the last week of December with auction barns in holiday mode. There were discussions regarding direct sales but no actual business was confirmed. The stakes are too high given the market uncertainty; a defensive tone will likely continue throughout January. Feed grains continue to percolate higher; the […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Cattle futures trim back on election uncertainty
Pork fundamentals still bearish on hogs
Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live and feeder cattle futures fell on Tuesday in a round of profit-taking ahead of an uncertain U.S. presidential election, analysts said. Chicago Mercantile Exchange December live cattle futures settled 0.725 cent lower at 107.825 cents/lb., after rising in each the last five sessions (all figures US$). CME feeder cattle […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market remains under pressure
Pre-election commodity trading in 'risk-off' mode
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $2-$5 lower on average; calves under 650 lbs. appeared to trade $3-$8 lower with significant pressure on the weight category between 550 and 650 lbs. Moderate demand surfaced on quality yearlings but major operations appeared to back away from the cattle in the heavier weight […] Read more
Beef demand soars as consumers ‘aggressively’ stock up
Surge in sales accompanied by a jump in people looking online for recipes
Reading Time: < 1 minute Canada’s beef demand has been strong during the pandemic. “Unlike previous disease outbreak issues, COVID-19 has not been about food safety or consumer confidence or issues with food products,” Canada Beef president Michael Young said during a recent online town hall. “Beef demand at retail is up 50 to 70 per cent. Consumers have aggressively […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market digesting lower beef demand
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were down $12-$18; mid-weight calves were down $10 to as much as $15 while calves under 550 lbs. were down $4-$8. The market is incorporating a risk discount due to uncertainty in beef demand for the second and third quarters of 2020. Feedlot margins are in negative […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Cattle futures hit 10-year lows
Coronavirus stokes demand uncertainty
Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — U.S. cattle futures plunged on Monday to their lowest in nearly a decade, with traders citing uncertainty about what the coronavirus pandemic will mean for long-term demand. Hog futures also were sharply lower, sinking to their lowest since October 2018. All fed cattle contracts and most hog contracts settled down the […] Read more
Klassen: Uncertain beef demand weighs on feeder market
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian prices for yearling and heavier calves were down $2-$4 on average. The calf market was hard to define; Alberta markets traded $3 lower to $4 higher but notable strength was evident in Saskatchewan and Manitoba where values were steady to $4 higher. Favourable weather contributed to higher auction market […] Read more
Virus concerns add more uncertainty to cattle market
Reading Time: 2 minutes MarketsFarm — Cattle futures in Chicago dropped hard over the past few days, as mounting concerns over the new coronavirus in China triggered a broad-based selloff in global equities and commodities. While the virus adds an extra layer of uncertainty to the North American cattle market, expectations for solid beef demand should remain supportive for […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle climb on wholesale beef demand
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures closed higher on Tuesday for a second session, supported by strong wholesale beef demand ahead of the Labour Day holiday weekend, analysts said. Retailers are stocking their meat cases this week ahead of the Labour Day holiday on Sept. 2, while a Tyson Foods slaughterhouse […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
