Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $2-$4 on either side of unchanged. Calf markets were steady to $5 higher on average, with stronger buying interest on preconditioned weaned steer calves. Light calves weighing under 500 lbs. appeared to jump $10-$20 in certain regions. This past week, focus of finishing feedlots switched from […] Read more
Klassen: Lower beef production forecasts support feeder complex
Major feedlots seen aggressive on quality calves
U.S. livestock: CME feeder cattle dip to three-week low
Live cattle also drop, hogs mixed ahead of USDA report
Chicago | Reuters — Chart-based and fund selling dragged Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures to their lowest level in more than a week on Tuesday while feeder cattle hit a three-week low, traders said. Most-active lean hog futures also came under pressure. Steep losses on Wall Street set a negative tone for cattle futures, […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle slip, but stay near recent highs
December hogs up off three-week low
Chicago | Reuters — Live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange eased on Monday as the market pulled back slightly from life-of-contract highs set last week. The markets remain near their peaks as tight U.S. cattle supplies continue to fuel supply concerns. CME October live cattle futures settled 0.1 cent down at 186.975 cents/lb., […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME cattle up on bargain-buying, tight supplies
Hogs down in profit-taking
Chicago | Reuters — Live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange closed higher on Friday on tight U.S. cattle supplies and bargain-buying a day after the benchmark December contract hit a one-week low, traders said. CME October live cattle futures settled up 2.1 cents at 187.075 cents/lb. and most-active December ended up 1.85 cents […] Read more
U.S. livestock: December hogs limit-down on pork prices, macroeconomic fears
Cattle futures follow hogs, equities lower
Chicago | Reuters — Lean hog futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange tumbled on Thursday as a drop in wholesale pork prices coupled with worries about the global economy sparked a round of profit-taking, analysts said. Livestock futures, grains and Wall Street equity markets all declined on Thursday as the U.S. dollar set a six-month […] Read more
Cost advice for beef operators
Reading Time: < 1 minute Any new business can benefit from the guidance of those more experienced, and starting a beef operation is no different. In order to share the wisdom of seasoned producers with the next generation, Canfax Research Services asked 180 participants of the Canadian Cow-Calf Cost of Production Network for their advice on starting a cow-calf operation. […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME cattle end firm, consolidate below recent highs
Hogs up on discount to cash price index
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures closed higher on Wednesday as the market consolidated just below life-of-contract highs touched a day earlier. Tightening U.S. cattle supplies remain a supportive backdrop to the market, but fresh bullish news was lacking, traders said. Wholesale beef prices fell, extending a seasonal slide dating from […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Chicago hogs turn upward
Cattle futures down on day
Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) lean hog futures turned solidly upward Tuesday, a day after most trading months except October booked declines. October lean hogs closed Tuesday at 84.85 cents/lb., up 1.6 cents from Monday, while December closed at 76.25 cents, up 1.825 cents on the day (all figures US$). October hogs had dipped below 82 […] Read more
Klassen: Stronger live cattle futures enhance feeder demand
Feeder cattle supplies look to be lower than anticipated
Compared to last week, western Canadian grass yearling prices were unchanged to $3/cwt lower on average. Steers held value but heifers had a softer tone. Calf prices were relatively unchanged from seven days earlier. However, weaker barley prices and stronger deferred live cattle prices limited any slippage. The calf market continues to be in price […] Read more
The guiding light of beef research
BCRC celebrates 25 years of funding beef research that the government wouldn’t
Reading Time: 5 minutes Many beef producers might remember a time, say 25 years ago, that a 900-pound steer would be considered finished. Today, there’s a good chance that same steer would be 50 pounds away from starting the finishing process. Craig Lehr remembers. And on the 25th anniversary of the largest not-for-profit, industry-led funding agency in Canadian beef […] Read more
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