Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were down $12-$18; mid-weight calves were down $10 to as much as $15 while calves under 550 lbs. were down $4-$8. The market is incorporating a risk discount due to uncertainty in beef demand for the second and third quarters of 2020. Feedlot margins are in negative […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market digesting lower beef demand
Feed weekly outlook: Seasonal restrictions underpin grains
Coronavirus fallout being watched
Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Seasonal weight restrictions and spring road bans are providing some underlying support for feed grain bids in Western Canada, with the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak also being followed closely. “Winter weights are coming off, which is restricting the areas (feedlots) can pull from,” said Allen Pirness, of MarketPlace Commodities in Lethbridge, adding “there’s a […] Read more
Klassen: Extreme variability characterizes feeder market
Reading Time: 2 minutes Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were extremely variable over the past week which made the market hard to define. Compared to last week, yearling prices were quoted $2 to as much $6 lower while calves traded $2 lower as much as $5 higher. While some auction crowds were caught up with the negative news coverage, […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Soft demand weighs on prices
Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Feed grain prices on the Prairies remain soft ahead of spring planting, due to quiet demand from feedlots. “Feedlots are full of grain right now,” Brandon Motz of CorNine Commodities at Lacombe, Alta. said, explaining that there’s currently a lot of grain in feeding pipelines. “Spring replacement into feedlots has been really slow.” […] Read more
Klassen: Calves remain firm while yearlings falter
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $3-$5 lower while calves and grassers traded within $5 on either side of unchanged. Calves were extremely variable with similar weight cattle sometimes trading $6-$8 apart at the same sale. Supplies of calves coming on the market appear to be lower than last year. This may […] Read more
Klassen: Calf prices divorce from yearling markets
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, yearling prices were steady to as much as $4 lower depending on the region in Western Canada. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle at an average price of $252 on a dressed basis, down $6-$8 from last week and down about $20 from the last week of January. Weakness in fed […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Bids pressured by lower demand
Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Feed grain prices have remained soft, as feedlots in Western Canada are covered for the foreseeable future. Last week, prices for feed barley and feed wheat delivered in Lethbridge were around $230 per tonne, but have come down by about $10 since then, according to Allan Pirness of Market Place Commodities. While these […] Read more
Klassen: Uncertain beef demand weighs on feeder market
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian prices for yearling and heavier calves were down $2-$4 on average. The calf market was hard to define; Alberta markets traded $3 lower to $4 higher but notable strength was evident in Saskatchewan and Manitoba where values were steady to $4 higher. Favourable weather contributed to higher auction market […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Buyers not looking to make purchases
Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Feed grain prices were beginning to soften as many buyers don’t have a major need to purchase from growers, said Nelson Neumann, senior trader for Agfinity in Stony Plain, Alta. “There’s still obviously a demand, but buyers are pretty well covered for the February-March timeframe. That’s a window where a lot of growers […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market remains under pressure
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle prices were steady to $3 lower in Alberta while prices eroded by $2-$5 in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Noticeable weakness was evident in yearling prices, while grass cattle experienced limited slippage. Backgrounding operators are starting to liquidate fall-placed calves. Quality was quite variable, with fleshier cattle experiencing sharper […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
