Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were $2-$4 per hundredweight higher last week. Relatively low volumes continue to characterize the feeder market but buying enthusiasm has strengthened relative to the number of feeder cattle available. Pasture conditions remain favourable in most regions, which has delayed the early yearling run. Beef demand appears to be improving and […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle market edges higher
Klassen: Feeder cattle market finds support
Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were $2 per hundredweight lower to $3/cwt higher last week as thin volumes continue to characterize the market. Fed cattle prices were $2/cwt higher, which appeared to set a positive tone in the feeder complex. Barley prices have also come off the highs, which provided some breathing room to bid […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle grind lower on higher feed costs
Western Canadian feeder cattle continue to drift lower amid higher feed costs and softer fed cattle prices. The barley harvest has started in Manitoba and will be more widespread in a couple of weeks. However, feed prices remain near historical highs. U.S. values were down $3/cwt to $5/cwt on average as ongoing drought conditions plague […] Read more
Klassen: Weak U.S. feeder market leads Canadian values lower
U.S. feeder cattle prices were $4 to $8 per hundredweight (cwt) lower last week, which spilled over into western Canadian markets. Western Canadian prices were down $2-$4/cwt on average with little volume defining the price structure. Most of Western Canada has received greater than 125 per cent of normal precipitation over the past 60 days, […] Read more
Klassen: Little hope for feeder market
Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were $2-$4 per hundredweight (cwt) lower on very thin summer volumes. Feeder cattle over 800 pounds were experiencing sharper losses, led by the weak U.S. market. Barley prices in southern Alberta reached historical highs of $285 per tonne, and it appears that this feedgrain rally is not over. Adverse conditions […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle continue to slide lower
Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were down $4-$5 on average on very light volume sales. Pasture conditions are very good across the Prairies, limiting the number of replacement cattle coming on the market. Most auction markets are also in summer holiday mode and many buyers are on holidays. Cash barley prices in southern Alberta jumped […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle fall on rising corn
Thin volumes characterized last week’s feeder cattle market, with most action markets in summer holiday mode. Western Canadian prices were led lower by the U.S. market, which was under severe pressure due to stronger corn prices. Record temperatures were recorded in over 250 U.S. cities last week and the forecast calls for above-normal temperatures and […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle market sleeps in uncertainty
Rising corn futures, European economic turmoil and passive consumption patterns have strained feeder prices. Cattle futures dropped faster than a power window last week, with traders squealing about changing market conditions. It was not long ago that upside was unlimited and the world would run out of beef. My brother sold backgrounded heifers last week […] Read more
Klassen: Weaker fed cattle spill over into feeder complex
Alberta packers bought slaughter cattle in the range of $110-$112 per hundredweight last week, down $3/cwt from a week earlier in June. Packers have finished purchases for the July 4 weekend; therefore, the market was experiencing softer demand. Sluggish fed cattle prices caused feeder cattle to trade $2-$5/cwt lower in comparison to a week earlier. […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle market edges higher
Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were $2-$3 per hundredweight (cwt) higher on average last week. Auction market volumes have been declining, but steady feedlot demand and the weaker Canadian dollar have supported the feeder market. Major feedlots are moving through a massive liquidation phase of fall-placed calves and margins have been fairly positive on these […] Read more
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