(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Yearling demand remains firm

Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearlings fresh off grass traded steady to $2 higher; backgrounded yearlings were relatively unchanged. The calf market was too thin to quote. Major feedlot operators set the price structure and were once again very aggressive. While many feedlots are backed up with market-ready supplies of fed cattle, some feedlots […] Read more

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Feed weekly outlook: Clearer picture of coming crop means lower prices

Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Prices for feed barley and wheat have been trending lower recently, according to Brandon Motz of CorNine Commodities at Lacombe, Alta. While there has been some harvest pressure, Motz said “it’s more of an equalization of the crops. “We got through the crunch of July not knowing exactly where things were at. As […] Read more


A barley crop south of Ethelton, Sask. on July 30, 2019. (Dave Bedard photo)

Feed weekly outlook: Barley bids drop ahead of harvest

Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Seasonal harvest pressure is already weighing on the Canadian feed barley market, with most end users covered for the time being and waiting for the new crop. “We’re seeing buyers fill up” on barley, said Susanne Leclerc of Market Master in Edmonton. Bids were dropping on a daily basis from those still in […] Read more

CME September 2020 feeder cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

Klassen: Strong demand underpins yearlings

Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, yearlings traded steady to $4 higher on average; calves traded $2-$4 lower, although light volumes made the market hard to define. All eyes were on feeder cattle futures, which closed up nearly $4 for the week. This set the direction in Western Canada. Auction barns in Manitoba and Saskatchewan remain in […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder market in summer mode

Set-aside program not having much effect yet on prices

Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle prices were relatively unchanged. Volumes are quite thin at this time of year, which makes the market hard to define. Steady demand surfaced on quality groups of yearlings and calves, while late stragglers and heavier-flesh feeders were severely discounted. Pasture conditions are favourable across the Prairies and […] Read more

CME August 2020 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hog futures weaken, cattle futures advance

Cattle values rise as corn values drop

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. hog futures on Friday pulled back from a rally the previous session as large supplies and doubts about Chinese imports weighed on the market, analysts said. Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) August lean hog futures settled down 0.35 cent at 49.875 cents/lb. (all figures US$). The contract has rebounded slightly since […] Read more



(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder cattle market searching for direction

Feedlots expecting barley prices to drop

Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian feeder cattle prices continue to trade in a sideways pattern. Compared to last week, prices were quoted $2-$3 on either side of unchanged. Most auction barns were on holidays last week and arenas that did hold sales experienced limited volumes. Therefore, the market was hard to define. U.S. feeder cattle markets were steady […] Read more