Cattle graze on a pasture in Manitoba’s Interlake in July 2025. Photo: Greg Berg

Klassen: Feeder market softens on weaker demand

Reading Time: 2 minutes For the week ending October 25, Western Canadian yearling markets traded steady to $10/cwt below prices from the previous week. Calves in the range of 550 pounds to 850 pounds were down $8 to $12 on average while feeders under 550 pounds were relatively unchanged compared to seven days earlier. U.S. government comments regarding the […] Read more

a calf suckling on a cows teat

Veterinary know-how on the farm

Basic veterinary knowledge could save you extra fees — and your animals. Here’s a refresher about the top common health concerns every farmer should be able to recognize

Reading Time: 6 minutes If you’re a livestock farmer, you’ve likely faced one of the most frustrating situations on the farm: a sick or distressed animal. You feel helpless, unsure of how to provide assistance or relief. According to Dr. Rob Swackhammer, veterinarian with Upper Grand Veterinary Services in Guelph, Ont., who specializes in large animal veterinary care, these […] Read more


  Photo: Thinkstock

Klassen: Feeder market extends rally

Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian yearling prices traded back up to historical highs over the week ended Oct. 18, while calf markets made fresh highs at many locations. Western Canadian yearlings off grass traded $5-$10 higher on average compared to seven days earlier. Steer calves in the weight range of 550-825 pounds traded $8-$12/cwt higher on average while […] Read more

Photo: Lisa Guenther

Klassen: Cash feeder market divorces from futures market

Reading Time: 2 minutes For the week ending October 11, Western Canadian yearling markets traded $8/cwt higher to $5/cwt lower compared to seven days earlier. Calf prices experienced a week-over-week decline of $3-$8/cwt on average. Feather-light calves under 450 pounds were steady to $10 higher on average. The Canadian cash feeder market appeared to divorce from the feeder cattle […] Read more


Photo: File

Klassen: Highs in place for the feeder market

Reading Time: 2 minutes For the week ending October 4, Western Canadian grass yearling markets traded steady to $5-$8/cwt lower on average compared to seven days earlier. Backgrounded yearlings were down $5-$12/cwt. Calf markets were down $5 to $10/cwt from a week earlier. There was an influx of calves over the past week which resulted in the softer tone […] Read more



Photo: Geralyn Wichers

Klassen: Feeder market slips off record highs

Reading Time: 2 minutes For the week ending September 20, Western Canadian feeder markets traded steady to $5/cwt lower compared to seven days earlier. There were pockets where quality calf packages traded $10-$15/cwt below prices from the prior week. The October feeder cattle futures have been trading at $15/cwt premium to the deferred March 2026 contract. This inverse in […] Read more

Photo: Canada Beef

Klassen: Feeder market eyes deferred live cattle futures

Reading Time: 2 minutes For the week ending September 13, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets were relatively unchanged compared to seven days earlier. The April 2026 live cattle futures ended the week at $233, down $10 from the contract highs. Nearby feedlot margins remain favorable; however, profitability in the deferred positions has evaporated given the weakness in the deferred […] Read more



 Photo: Jacqueline Nix/iStock/Getty Images Plus

Klassen: Feeder market consolidates at historical highs

Reading Time: 2 minutes For the week ending September 6, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets were relatively unchanged compared to seven days earlier. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis at $525/cwt, up $15/cwt from a week earlier. Using a 60 per cent grading, this equates to a live price of $315/cwt. Current breakeven pen closeout […] Read more