Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — CME Group feeder cattle futures rose on Friday, bolstered by falling corn futures. March feeder cattle gained five cents to settle at 144.15 cents, adding 9.575 cents for the week — a 7.1 per cent gain as corn fell 5.8 per cent, its biggest drop since the week ending March 20, […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Feeder cattle gain from falling feed prices
Live cattle, lean hog futures also up
Feed weekly outlook: Offshore demand still lifting Prairie barley
Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Solid offshore demand for Canadian barley remains the key driver in the domestic feed market, keeping prices high. “It’s certainly not driven by southern Alberta, it’s driven by Vancouver and the export business,” said Allen Pirness, of Market Place Commodities in Lethbridge, on the continued strength in barley bids. Typically, arbitrage opportunities would […] Read more
Klassen: Higher feed grain prices continue to pressure feeders
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to mid-December, western Canadian yearlings traded $3-$5 lower; mid-weight calves are down $4-$6 while calves under 550 lbs. remained firm. Buyers exhibited a defensive tone on heavier yearlings and discounts were more severe on fleshier cattle last week. There is absolutely no risk appetite for 850-plus-lb. cattle at this time of year. Demand for […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Barley, wheat prices very likely to increase
Increases seen tied to rising U.S. corn
Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Two Alberta traders believe strong feed grain prices will continue to push higher over the next week of January, with much of the upswing tied to the rise in corn prices in the U.S. “As corn edges higher, becoming the preferred direct replacement to barley, your barley floor comes up and wheat starts […] Read more
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
Klassen: Lighter calves end year on positive tone
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were $2 lower to $3 higher depending on the region. Many auction markets were in holiday mode last week and thinner volumes made the market harder to define. Generally speaking, the market was supported by stronger deferred live cattle futures and a slightly weaker Canadian dollar; […] Read more
Klassen: Fed cattle prices supporting calf market
Reading Time: 2 minutes Alberta packers were buying fed cattle in the range of $139 to $140 last week, up $1 to $2 from seven days earlier. Strength in the nearby fed cattle market along with the recent rally in the live cattle futures has been supportive for calves under 600 pounds. Compared to last week, Western Canadian yearling […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Barley market cools ahead of New Year
More strength is still likely, however
Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — The feed market in Western Canada may be stabilizing heading into the holiday season, but underlying fundamentals remain supportive and could lead to more strength in the New Year. While the market was holding steady in mid-December, “I think it will go back up in January/February/March,” said Mike Fleischhauer of Eagle Commodities in […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle market volatility continues
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $3 lower to $3 higher. Prices were generally steady to $3 higher on Friday after the U.S. Department of Agriculture lowered its estimate for second-quarter beef production by 125 million lbs. in Thursday’s world agricultural supply and demand estimates (WASDE). Fed and feeder cattle futures […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market takes direction from live cattle futures
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded steady to $4 lower; midweight calves traded $3 lower to $3 higher and calves under 550 lbs. were relatively unchanged. Yearling supplies are limited at this time of year but demand is also hard to find. These cattle will come on the fed market during the […] Read more
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