CME August 2022 lean hogs (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, brown and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME lean hogs touch highest level since April

Live cattle up, feeder cattle lower

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures jumped to their highest price since April on Thursday on U.S. supply concerns and strength in outside markets, brokers said. Live cattle reached a two-week high in the most-active contract, while feeder cattle futures slumped under pressure from soaring costs for grain used for livestock […] Read more

(GFM Staff photo)

National cattle producer group rebrands

Former Canadian Cattlemen's Association renamed

Canada’s national beef cattle producer body is rebranding under a slightly shorter new name that serves in part to clear away any potential whiff of a guys-only club. The organization formerly known as the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association on Thursday launched what it describes as a “a new brand identity, highlighting the strong and diverse group […] Read more


CME August 2022 live cattle (candlesticks) with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME cattle, hogs advance in turnaround from losses

Live hog futures in China drop sharply

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle and hog futures closed stronger on Wednesday as the livestock markets recovered from losses in the previous session that were linked to fears of a global economic recession, traders said. Wall Street also finished higher, after broad declines in equities and commodities on Tuesday spilled over into […] Read more

CME August 2022 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, dark red and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle fall on global recession worries

Lean hogs buck downward trend

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures fell on Tuesday, following broad declines in commodities and Wall Street equities tied to fears of a global economic recession, traders said. “It’s the economy. You’ve got the fears of going into a recession,” said Don Roose, president of Iowa-based U.S. Commodities. “So goes the […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder cattle trade at 52-week highs

New-crop feed grain values under pressure

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearlings traded steady to $2 higher with exceptional demand noted on steers over 700 pounds. Calf values were mixed in Alberta with markets trading $2-$4 on either side of unchanged; however, prices were steady to $4 higher in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Small groups of various quality characterized the feeder […] Read more

Photo: Thinkstock

U.S. livestock: Live cattle futures ease ahead of U.S. holiday weekend

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures eased on Wednesday, as packers prep for a short processing week after the Fourth of July holiday in the United States, traders said. Packers’ purchases are expected to slow by the end of the week, to avoid having pens full of animals waiting over the […] Read more



Producers should “lean into” their relationships with vet clinics to discuss preventive medicine in the face of a severe shortage of both vets and veterinary technologists, says Dr. Natasha Kutryk.

Vacancies put vet clinics in ‘near crisis’ situation

More funding, more vet and vet technologist training won’t fix problem overnight, warns the AVMA

Reading Time: 3 minutes There’s a major shortage of veterinary professionals in Alberta causing long wait times for routine livestock medical procedures. There are more than 840 veterinarian and veterinary technologist vacancies in Alberta — a “near-crisis” situation that poses a risk in terms of animal welfare, livestock production and public health, the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association said in […] Read more


The impact of last year’s drought on herd health will persist into this year and producers should keep an eye out for problems, say experts.

Keep an eye out for drought-caused nutrient deficiency in your cattle

Nutrient deficiencies have ripple effects, including slower gain and lower pregnancy rates

Reading Time: 4 minutes Feeding cattle through last year’s drought was tough enough — but for some producers, its impact on the health of their cattle isn’t over. “The biggest challenge for producers through the drought was finding good-quality feed for a feasible price. A lot of low-quality fibre like straw was fed,” said Courtney O’Keefe, ruminant nutritionist at […] Read more