Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures fell on Wednesday in a light profit-taking setback following a four-session climb, and on spillover weakness from declines in Wall Street equity markets, traders said. However, continued strength in wholesale beef prices and expectations of higher cash cattle prices this week underpinned the market. Chicago Mercantile Exchange […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Live cattle, lean hogs end lower on profit-taking
March feeder cattle also lower
U.S. livestock: Rising beef prices buoy CME live cattle futures
Colder spell in U.S. Midwest, Plains lifts hogs
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures rose on Tuesday for a fourth straight session, with deferred months setting life-of-contract highs as robust demand for beef lifted packer profit margins and bolstered demand for market-ready cattle, traders said. Chicago Mercantile Exchange April live cattle futures settled up 0.15 cent at 123.1 cents/lb., while June […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle demand improving
The feeder market received a shot of adrenaline last week as corn futures came under pressure while live cattle futures surged. During the first half of the week, western Canadian yearlings were quite sluggish and calf prices steady to $3 lower compared to seven days earlier. Some yearling packages moving direct off-farm in certain areas […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Live cattle end firm, led by rising beef prices
Lean hog futures edge higher
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures closed higher on Monday as support from strong wholesale beef prices and expectations of firm cash cattle prices overshadowed pressure from bearish data in a monthly cattle report released late Friday, traders said. Chicago Mercantile Exchange April live cattle futures settled up 0.425 cent at 122.95 cents/lb. […] Read more
Here’s the beef — it’s on Costco shelves in Madrid and that’s a big win
A Canadian beef deal in Spain raises hope the battle for European access is paying off
Reading Time: 5 minutes You might expect to pay $30 for a steak at a restaurant. But at the supermarket meat counter? Not so much. However, Costco customers in Madrid haven’t balked at paying those sorts of prices since the chain began carrying Canada AAA rib-eyes in November. “As a Canadian consumer walking into the grocery store, I don’t […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Feeder cattle gain from falling feed prices
Live cattle, lean hog futures also up
Chicago | Reuters — CME Group feeder cattle futures rose on Friday, bolstered by falling corn futures. March feeder cattle gained five cents to settle at 144.15 cents, adding 9.575 cents for the week — a 7.1 per cent gain as corn fell 5.8 per cent, its biggest drop since the week ending March 20, […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Live cattle climb ahead of USDA report
Chicago | Reuters — CME Group live cattle futures gained on Thursday ahead of a closely watched monthly Cattle on Feed report, due out on Friday from the U.S. Agriculture Department. Traders anticipate the report will show fewer cattle heading into feedlots, as recent rallies in the grain market have increased feed costs. “The incentive, […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Lean hogs climb on falling grain futures
April live cattle close lower
Chicago | Reuters — CME Group lean hog futures climbed Wednesday, supported by lower feed grain futures and expectations the U.S. herd will shrink moving into the spring, traders said. CME’s most-active April lean hogs added 1.65 cents to close at 73.075 cents/lb., while the spot February contract strengthened 1.95 cents to end at 68.425 […] Read more
Timing is (almost) everything when it comes to reproductive success
Pay attention to the length of your breeding season, calving distribution, and postpartum interval
Reading Time: 3 minutes Tackling reproductive failure in a beef herd starts with understanding what reproductive success looks like — and for most Alberta cattle operations, the usual measure of success doesn’t tell the whole story. “A lot of people might think, great, I got greater than 90 per cent (pregnancy rate), that might mean success,” said veterinarian Dr. […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Cattle futures strengthen ahead of USDA report
CME lean hogs dip nearer cash index level
Chicago | Reuters — CME Group live cattle futures gained on Tuesday as traders began positioning ahead of Friday’s monthly Cattle on Feed report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, traders said. Feeder cattle futures also rose, supported by weaker feed grain futures. Lean hog futures declined after gaining on Friday as futures look to […] Read more
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