Chicago | Reuters — Feeder cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange climbed on Thursday, supported by sluggish corn futures, while live cattle gains were muted as meatpackers offered lower cash cattle prices this week, traders said. “They’ve backed off a bit in the cash market,” said Doug Houghton, technical analyst at Brock Capital Management. […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Cattle futures firm despite softer cash cattle
Hog futures down as exports disappoint
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle ease on seasonal retail softness
February hogs lower despite export optimism
Chicago | Reuters — Live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange dipped on Wednesday, as easing post-holiday retail demand, combined with strong cash cattle prices, eats into processor profitability. “This week specifically is when we transition to buying for a lower-demand period, post-holidays,” said Rich Nelson, chief strategist at Allendale Inc. “Packer margins are […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle market experiences diverse price behaviour
Manitoba calves hold a premium over Sask., Alta.
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded steady to $2 higher while calf prices were unchanged to $4 lower. Yearling supplies are limited and there appeared to be a surge of buying interest for 850-lb. thin-fleshed replacements. Alberta fed cattle basis levels for the second quarter of 2023 have above average and the […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle fall on wholesale beef weakness
Feeder cattle, February hogs also lower
Chicago | Reuters — Live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange slid on Tuesday, pressured by falling wholesale beef prices. “We had a really disappointing box beef value fall off to start the week yesterday, and a little follow through today,” said Matthew Wiegand, risk management consultant at FuturesOne. Most retailers have completed purchases […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME feeder cattle firm as corn inputs slide
Live cattle climb higher in deferred months; February hogs also up
Chicago | Reuters — Feeder cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange firmed for the fifth consecutive session, as corn, a significant input for producers, continues to fall, traders said. “The feeders have sort of been hobbled for a long time because of the elevated feed price,” said Dennis Smith, livestock analyst and broker at […] Read more
Canadian Cattle Association president Reg Schellenberg dies
Saskatchewan rancher had led CCA since March
Updated, Dec. 7 — Western Saskatchewan rancher Reg Schellenberg, who had led the national organization representing Canada’s beef cattle producers since March this year, died suddenly Friday at age 63. The Canadian Cattle Association reported Schellenberg’s death in a release Saturday, adding that the association’s current vice-president, rancher Nathan Phinney of Sackville, N.B., will now […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME feeder, live cattle firm as trade eyes supplies
February lean hogs close higher
Chicago | Reuters — Feeder cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange firmed on Friday, supported by lower feed grain costs and resilient live cattle futures, traders said. “The market has held together well, so there’s optimism there. Then you’ve got the grain market down double digits today, and down the day before,” said Altin […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME lean hogs firm with supplies in focus
Feeder cattle up on supply expectations
Chicago | Reuters — Lean hog futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange firmed on Thursday, erasing the week’s earlier losses as smaller supplies of market-ready hogs offset seasonal pressure. “Fundamentally, we know we’re fairly tight on supplies. We’re not getting expansion,” said Alan Brugler, president of Brugler Marketing. The CME February lean hogs contract added […] Read more
Beef mentorship program a quiet success
Eight years on, a unique program connecting ranches and research labs proves its worth
Reading Time: 4 minutes It’s been a parade of PhDs, a cavalcade of scholars, an array of academics. Call it what you will, but the number of researchers who have gone through an innovative mentorship program started as a one-year pilot eight years ago is well into the double digits. The tally is now up to three dozen on […] Read more
The door is opening for UHF livestock tags
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Canadian Cattle Identification Agency has launched an initiative that links non-approved Ultra High Frequency (UHF) secondary tags to agency approved tags in the Canadian Livestock Tracking System database. “This is a positive step forward in supporting UHF currently being used for management purposes and in some cases, it will facilitate cattle exports and provide […] Read more