Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were traded $15 to $25 below week-ago levels, suffering one of the largest declines in history. Heavier replacement cattle led the market lower, trading down $20 from week-ago levels, while feeders under 600 pounds dropped $10 to $12 on average. Feedlot operators pulled in the reins, as fed cattle dropped […] Read more

Klassen: Feeder cattle prices collapse

Klassen: Feeder cattle market remains under pressure
Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian feeder cattle prices traded $3 to $7 lower in comparison to week-ago levels as the market continues to digest the weaker fed market and softer wholesale beef values. Feedlot operators were more cautious, realizing the current prices don’t pencil profitably, while the deferred live cattle futures dropped like a power window. Financial risk […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle close mixed, hogs lower
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle settled mixed on Wednesday after investors bought the August contract and sold deferred months prompted by the morning’s wholesale beef price increase, traders said. Spot-August futures closed 0.45 cent/lb. higher at 148.675 cents, and October was down 0.025 cent at 148.175 cents (all figures US$). Wednesday […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Sluggish beef demand takes down CME live cattle
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures closed lower for a second day in a row on Thursday, pressured by lacklustre wholesale beef demand that could drag down this week’s cash prices, traders said. August closed 0.525 cent/lb. lower at 146.5 cents, and October down 0.8 cent at 149.425 cents (all figures […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Beef price upswing snaps skid for live cattle
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — For the first time in five sessions Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures landed in positive territory on Tuesday, helped by the turnaround in wholesale beef values, traders said. August closed 0.55 cent/lb. higher at 147.15 cents, and October up 0.6 cent to 150.325 cents (all figures US$). Tuesday morning’s wholesale […] Read more

Klassen: Feeder market consolidates
Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian feeder cattle markets continue to consolidate at the higher levels. Most auction markets were closed due to the Canada Day holiday, so all eyes were on focused south of the border for market sentiment. Average U.S. feeder prices were steady to $3 lower at major sales in Oklahoma and Missouri as the U.S. […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Hog supplies, post-holiday slump cool CME futures
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. livestock futures remained mostly sluggish on Monday at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange as traders wrestled with strengthening grain prices, tight supplies of market-ready cattle, and visions of a glut of hogs straining U.S. slaughterhouse capacity in the coming months. Livestock futures trading was relatively light on an historic day at […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Profit-taking undercuts CME live cattle
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures snapped a three-day win streak on Thursday, pressured by profit-taking and a wholesale beef price downturn, traders said. June closed down 0.575 cent per pound, to 155.225 cents, and August 0.6 cent lower at 152.925 cents (all figures US$). Thursday morning’s wholesale choice beef (cutout) […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle climb as beef prices jump
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures closed higher on Tuesday, fuelled by short-covering after the sharp rebound in wholesale beef prices, traders said. June closed up 1.6 cents per pound, to 155.075 cents, and August 1.275 cents higher at 152.875 cents (all figures US$). Tuesday morning’s wholesale choice beef price surged […] Read more

Klassen: Feeder market dealing with limited precipitation
Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian feeder cattle prices traded $3 to $5 higher on average over the past week. Wholesale beef prices have come off their highs and appear to be weakening in line with the seasonal tendency. However, Alberta packers were buying fed cattle in the range of $201-$203, basically in line with the market seven days […] Read more