Jerry Klassen

Feb. 8 — A weaker Canadian dollar and softer feed grain prices have set a positive tone to the feeder cattle market in Western Canada. Finishing feedlots are realizing lower costs per pound gain and there appears to be renewed optimism as margins slowly improve. Auction market numbers in Alberta are running 10 per cent […] Read more

Feb. 1 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s cattle inventory report was considered constructive for the beef complex. Total U.S. cattle inventory as of Jan. 1 was 93.701 million, down one per cent from last year. Beef cows that have calved were also down one per cent from last year at 31.376 million. The 2009 […] Read more

Jan. 25 — Feeder cattle prices in Western Canada were $3 to $5 higher last week; U.S. prices were also $2 to $4 higher for heavier animals, while cattle under 500 pounds were $8 to $10 higher for the second week in a row. Despite larger numbers of feeder cattle coming on the market, values […] Read more

Jan. 18 — The bearish U.S. Department of Agriculture corn report had a positive effect on the North American feeder cattle complex. Prices in the U.S. southern Plains were quite strong and feedlots appear to have renewed optimism. Lightweight feeder cattle under 600 pounds sold for $4-$6 per hundredweight (cwt) higher than last week.  In […] Read more

Jan. 11 — Feeder cattle prices in Western Canada were slightly lower over the past week due to the stronger Canadian dollar and weaker feedlot demand. Weather is setting a negative tone to overall market conditions on both sides of the border. Feedlots in the U.S. southern Plains were dealing with a foot of snow, […] Read more

Jan. 4 — Auction markets have been rather quiet over the past couple weeks due to the holiday schedule. Feeder cattle prices appear to have stabilized for the time being. Looking forward, there are still a number of risks weighing on the market in the short term. Finishing feedlot margins continue to hover in red […] Read more

Dec. 28 — The Canadian dollar has been trading in a range of US92-98 cents since October and the market is now at the upper end of this range. When a market trades in a range for a long period of time and then breaks out of this range, there is usually a significant move. […] Read more

Dec. 21 — The western Canadian feeder cattle market has stabilized after a week of harsh weather. Year-end income management, along with lower numbers coming on the market, resulted in a slightly higher price structure. The U.S. feeder market was steady to $3 higher, but this had a limited effect on the weekly export pace. […] Read more

Dec. 15 — The U.S. feeder market was $3 to $5 lower last week; Canadian values were steady to $3 lower. Adverse weather conditions across North America set a negative tone to the feeder market. Feedlots in Western Canada are dealing with extreme weather conditions and are not looking to bring in additional supplies at […] Read more

Feeder cattle prices remain under pressure in Western Canada due to lower fed cattle prices, negative feedlot margins and weaker deferred live cattle futures. There is little optimism in the cattle business as the Canadian dollar continues to trade near US95 cents. Canadian triple AAA prices continue to trade near two-year lows as the beef […] Read more