Compared to the week ending March 2, western Canadian yearling prices were $3-$5 lower on average. Mid-weight replacements in the range of 650-800 lbs. were down $8-$12. Steer calves under 650 lbs. traded steady to $5 lower. Heifer calves under 650 lbs. were also down $8-$12. The market was hard to define for heifer calves […] Read more
Klassen: Feedlots value feeders on finished cattle price projections
U.S. livestock: CME lean hogs, live cattle end higher
May feeder cattle up, August down
Chicago | Reuters — Lean hog futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange inched higher on Monday as technical buying and worries about tightening U.S. hog supplies offset fears of slowing pork export demand and softening cash hog prices, traders said. CME benchmark June lean hogs settled up 0.45 cent at 115.025 cents/lb. (all figures US$). […] Read more
Alberta researcher wins animal care award
Reading Time: < 1 minute Research scientist Brenda Ralston is this year’s winner of the Award of Distinction from Alberta Farm Animal Care (AFAC). Currently at Lakeland College’s Vermilion campus, Ralston began her 35-year career with the province, first as a district agriculturist and then as a beef specialist while earning a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and PhD, the latter […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME cattle futures end week lower
June hogs firm, April lower
Chicago | Reuters — Live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange slid on Friday to end the week lower as cash markets stalled, despite strong slaughter rates. “The weekly kill came in much larger than expected,” said Dennis Smith, commodity broker at Archer Financial. “I suspect that will change the tone of the cash […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME cattle ease on ample supply, flat cash offers
Flat cutout values drag on hogs
Chicago | Reuters — Live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange fell on Thursday, pressured by ample cattle supplies that offer little incentive for packers to bid up the cash market. “The supply of market ready cattle is a little less than last year, but it’s still plentiful. It just doesn’t seem like the […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME cattle, hogs firm
Futures supported by cash markets
Chicago | Reuters — Live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange lifted on Wednesday, supported by cash cattle prices that pulled up nearby futures markets. “We just got below the cash market,” said Alan Brugler, president of Brugler Marketing. “That was an argument to try the long side.” The nearby April live cattle contract […] Read more
B.C. doubling seat count at Saskatchewan vet college
Saskatoon veterinary school to take 40 B.C. students
The interprovincial cost-sharing agreement supporting the University of Saskatchewan’s Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) will now allow for twice as many students from British Columbia. The B.C. government and the U of S on Monday announced the province will now put up almost $10.7 million to double the number of provincially subsidized students to […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME cattle ease, seasonal high possible
Avian flu outbreaks may ripple through meat markets
Chicago | Reuters — Live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange eased on Tuesday, pressured by a steady supply of market-ready cattle that may indicate a seasonal high in the market. “Five weeks in a row of generally steady trade for cash cattle is reminding the trade that we may already be at the […] Read more
Benchmarking for cow-calf producers
Reading Time: < 1 minute An updated AgriProfit$ cow-calf benchmark report is now available, with 2016-20 data from Alberta cow-calf operations. The AgriProfit$ beef program examines the profitability, financial and production efficiencies, and risk-bearing ability of the entire beef operation. It also sheds light on how each production stage contributes to overall profitability. It uses anonymized farm data to generate […] Read more
Klassen: Steady fed cattle market supports feeder complex
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were $2-$4 higher on average while calves were steady to as much as $5 higher. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis in the range of $273-$275 delivered; live prices were quoted at $161 f.o.b. the feedlot. There is a severe backlog of market-ready […] Read more
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