Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $2 to $4 on either side of unchanged; however, calves under 650 pounds were steady to as much as $5 higher. Bids from Alberta packers were sharply higher with fed cattle trading in the range of $160 to $162 on Friday, up $5 to $6 […] Read more
Klassen: Improving margins support lightweight feeder cattle
Klassen: Feeder cattle market volatility continues
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded steady to $5 higher on average. For the second week in a row, the markets were quite variable across the Prairies but shorter-keep yearlings appeared to lead the charge higher. In Alberta, quality 900-lb. steers were once again touching the $190 level and 800-lb.-plus steers […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Grains pressured by lower demand
Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Bids for feed grains have backed off previous highs as feedlots in Western Canada are covered into the New Year. “Now they’re bidding January and forward,” said Allen Pirness of Market Place Commodities in Lethbridge. Bids for feed barley and feed wheat delivered from January to March were around $220 per tonne, according […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle market under weight of imports
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $5 lower to $2 higher. It’s that time of year when most feedlots are carrying sufficient numbers and buyers are hesitant to increase ownership unless they can see profitability. Auction market volumes contained weaned and unweaned calves over the past week; premiums returned for feeders […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle edge higher on improving margins
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearlings were $2-$3 higher; calf prices were $2 to as much as $4 higher; calves under 600 lbs. were $4 to as much as $10 higher in some cases. February and April live cattle futures appear to be incorporating a risk premium due to the uncertainty in beef production […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Firm Prairie market leveling off
Reading Time: < 1 minute MarketsFarm — Logistics issues moving grain where it needs to be in Western Canada continue to prop up feed prices, but the market is starting to level off, according to a broker. “We are seeing a bit of a shortage of trucks,” said Tracy Green of Market Master Ltd. in Edmonton, adding “things are still […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle set contract high on winter storms
Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures reached a contract high on Wednesday on expectations that wintry weather would hamper the movement of cattle to slaughterhouses. Two winter storms blasted parts of the United States, after parts of Colorado got up to 30 inches of snow on Tuesday. The storms could disrupt transportation and […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle market drops on soft demand
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets were down $4-$6 while calf prices dropped $5 to as much as much as $10 in some cases. Comments from order buyers reflect very sluggish demand for this time of year. Ontario farmers have harvested about 50 per cent of the corn crop and buying interest from […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Live cattle touch seven-month peak on weather woes
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures closed higher on Tuesday, recording a seven-month high on expectations that a winter storm this week would slow the movement of cattle to beef packing plants and possibly curb the ability of feedlot cattle to gain weight, traders said. A powerful snowstorm swept across Colorado and into […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle sink ahead of USDA feedlot data
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures fell to a one-week low and feeder cattle futures hit a six-week low on Friday ahead of a U.S. Department of Agriculture report that traders expected would show a hefty year-on-year increase in the number of cattle placed in feedlots last month. February live cattle futures on […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
