Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $3 to as much as $8 higher. Strong gains in the live and feeder cattle futures, along with the softer Canadian dollar, set a positive tone for all weight categories. Central and southern Alberta feedlot operators were quite aggressive on local cattle, which caused major […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market maintains upward momentum
Klassen: Feeder market experiences renewed optimism
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, yearlings traded $3-$5 higher while calf prices were $5 to as much as $10 higher in some cases. Southern Alberta yearling prices were unchanged this week after trading at premium to western Canadian markets earlier in September. The U.S. Department of Agriculture came out on Tuesday and lowered its beef production […] Read more
Klassen: Strong Canadian dollar weighs on feeder market
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were down $3-$6 on average while calf values dropped $5 to as much as $10 in some cases. Most auction barns held feature yearling sales last week; there were small groups of calves available but the market was quite variable and hard to define in the lighter […] Read more
Klassen: Lethbridge demand drives up yearling market
Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $5-$8 above week-ago levels. The first major yearling sales occurred in southern Alberta, which appeared to kick-start the buying momentum. Alberta fed cattle prices and wholesale beef values were under pressure; however, feedlot operators were extremely tenacious. Buyers capriciously worked orders throughout the week and by the Friday, quality […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market softens on trade comments
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices steady to $5 lower while calves traded steady to as much as $10 lower. Alberta feedlots were shopping across the Prairies; light demand surfaced from eastern Canadian buyers while subdued buying interest was noted from the U.S. Limited numbers were on offer in the eastern Prairie regions […] Read more
Klassen: Yearlings define feeder market
Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian feeder cattle markets became more established this past week as early yearling sales captivated major feedlot operators. Prices were relatively unchanged from week-ago levels; however, larger volumes confirmed the price structure. Higher-quality lower-flesh cattle were featured weighing 850 to 1,050 lbs. at most sales. Feedlots have plenty of pen space and with the […] Read more
Five years on: Wayne and Maria McDonald
Country Guide revisits the livestock operation of McDonald Farm
Reading Time: 6 minutes Wayne McDonald has never had a job off the farm and admits that he has no idea what nine-to-five is all about. That’s the way he likes it. Now, thanks to some hard work and their very dedicated focus, he and wife Maria have managed to achieve one of the key goals they set themselves […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle prices remain firm
Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were relatively unchanged from week-ago levels, although larger groups of quality cattle were priced $3-$5 higher. Most auction barns reported small packages on offer with a larger variance in quality. However, there was limited slippage, even on late stragglers. Prices were rather surprising, with one producer noting that medium-frame, medium- […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle market stabilizes
Reading Time: 2 minutes After the recent rally, cattle buyers noted that price spreads between weight categories came back in line with traditional levels this week. Shorter-keep yearlings were steady to $4 weaker compared to seven days earlier; mid-weight cattle from 700 to 800 lbs. were relatively unchanged while feeders under 700 lbs. were $4 to $8 higher. On […] Read more
U.S. April feedlot cattle placements jump to 14-year high
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Ranchers placed 11 per cent more cattle in feedlots in April than a year earlier, the most for the month in 14 years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported on Friday, beating average forecasts. Higher cattle prices paid by packers last month enhanced profits for feedlots, allowing them to buy more […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
