Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded steady to $4 lower; midweight calves traded $3 lower to $3 higher and calves under 550 lbs. were relatively unchanged. Yearling supplies are limited at this time of year but demand is also hard to find. These cattle will come on the fed market during the […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market takes direction from live cattle futures
U.S. livestock: Cattle, hog futures fall as accelerating pandemic stirs demand concern
Chicago | Reuters – U.S. cattle and hog futures fell on Monday as cash beef and pork prices weakened and as accelerating coronavirus infection rates prompted tighter restrictions on restaurants and other food service outlets, threatening meat sales. Meanwhile, renewed tensions between the United States and China, after fresh U.S. sanctions on 14 Chinese officials, […] Read more
Stacy Price and Andy Pittman newest 4-H Hall inductees
Reading Time: < 1 minute Stacy Price and Andy Pittman are the newest inductees in the Alberta 4-H Hall of Fame, which honours volunteers who have made exceptional contributions to the 4-H program in the province. Price has served as a club leader, on the executive on the Calgary Stampede 4-H Parade Committee (for 23 years), district executive and president […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Live cattle futures step back on demand uncertainty
Lean hogs down with pork production up
Chicago | Reuters — Live cattle futures fell on Friday as a third day of softer wholesale beef prices brought retailer demand into question, traders said. “Wholesale beef prices appear to have topped again and could head lower into the holidays, other than some late buying by retailers last minute,” said Doug Houghton, technical analyst […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Cattle futures step back on demand uncertainty
February lean hog futures lower
Chicago | Reuters — Live cattle futures trimmed on Thursday as fears of additional pandemic closures weighed on the demand outlook, traders said. Chicago Mercantile Exchange February live cattle futures fell 1.35 cents to 112.575 cents/lb., the contract’s biggest decline in two weeks (all figures US$). CME January feeder cattle ended two cents lower at […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Live cattle futures gain on strong cash trade
CME lean hogs down off six-week high
Chicago | Reuetrs — Live cattle futures gained on Wednesday, supported by a firming cash cattle market as traders eye the consumer demand picture. Chicago Mercantile Exchange February live cattle futures added 0.75 cent to settle at 113.925 cents/lb. (all figures US$). Tighter cattle supplies could begin pushing cash markets higher, whittling away at historically […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Live cattle strengthen on demand outlook
Export demand supports hog futures, for now
Chicago | Reuters — Live cattle futures rose on Tuesday, supported by strong U.S. consumer demand and high wholesale beef prices, traders said. Chicago Mercantile Exchange February live cattle futures added 0.3 cent to 113.175 cents/lb. (all figures US$). CME cattle futures have been steady in recent weeks, recovering from a slump in late October […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market stabilizes on demand hopes
Western Canadian feeder cattle markets were relatively unchanged compared to seven days earlier; however, market reports were quite variable depending on the region and weight category. In most cases, prices for calves under 550 lbs. were $2 to as much as $10 higher while values in the heavier weight categories were $3 lower to $3 […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Lean hog futures gain on strong pork demand
Weak beef exports drag on live cattle futures
Chicago | Reuters — Lean hog futures gained on Monday as demand for pork keeps pace with strong production, traders said. Chicago Mercantile Exchange’s benchmark February lean hog futures contract settled 1.325 cents higher at 68.575 cents/lb. (all figures US$). “Demand must be good,” said Alan Brugler, president of Brugler Marketing. “Cold storage stocks continue […] Read more
The cattle backlog is easing, but feedlots are still hurting
Feedlot owners losing $200 to $300 a head even though glut of market-ready cattle is smaller
Reading Time: 4 minutes While the backlog of cattle from packing plant closures and slowdowns last spring has dwindled, feedlot owners are still being hit hard. In the spring, there was a backlog of 130,000 cattle that needed to be processed. That number is now down to 30,000, thanks to no more further shutdowns at packing plants, which have […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
