China's agriculture ministry said on Thursday it would stabilize beef and dairy production, shore up consumption and assist farmers as falling prices force small producers out of business.

China agriculture ministry to steady beef and dairy output, aid farmers

Klassen: Western Canadian feeder market demand remains firm
Ontario buying interest was evident in Manitoba yearling markets. U.S. buyers were more interested in lighter calves and were shopping for pre-conditioned groups of sizeable volume. Certain finishing operators in Alberta were more aggressive on grass yearlings after waiting for lower prices earlier in the season.

Klassen: Discounts start to appear in the feeder market
For the week ending September 14, Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were relatively unchanged compared to seven days earlier. However, yearling quality has become quite variable resulting in a diverse price structure.

U.S. livestock: CME cattle fall amid fears over labour market
Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle and feeder cattle futures fell on Friday on a dip in equities markets, slowing momentum in the labour market and a weak cash cattle trade, analysts said. Lean hog futures also fell as industry players anticipated a large supply of heavy hogs to hit the market […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME cattle fall as consumers opt for cheaper meats
Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) live cattle and feeder cattle futures fell on Thursday on renewed worries over inflation-hit consumers’ ability to purchase pricy cuts of meat, traders said. Hog futures also fell on a seasonal lull in prices and a strong supply of heavy hogs. Beef and pork demand has eased […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME cattle dip on weak cash market, rising corn prices
Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) live cattle and feeder cattle futures fell on Wednesday following recent weakness in cash prices and as corn prices sustained a small rally, traders said. Traders also monitored U.S. beef demand. Demand for beef typically weakens after Labor Day, which is considered the last major grilling holiday […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME cattle, lean hog futures turn higher as wholesale prices firm
Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) livestock futures turned higher on Tuesday, as wholesale prices firmed and the slaughter pace temporarily shrank as some plants shuttered over the holiday weekend, analysts said. Strong boxed beef prices continued to underpin cattle markets, traders said. Select boxed beef prices rose on Tuesday morning, with prices […] Read more

Klassen: Feeder cattle market stabilizes
For the week ending August 31, Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were relatively unchanged compared to seven days earlier. Finishing feedlots are exuding a cautious sentiment. While order buyers had a full deck, there were upside limits. Pen-sized strings of quality yearlings traded at a premium to average values. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle […] Read more

Klassen: Feeder market holds value amid economic uncertainty
Overall, the calf market appeared to be more sensitive to the weakness in the deferred live cattle futures while buyers of yearlings were focused on securing ownership. Ideas are that yearling supplies are down from year-ago levels and scarcity factor is driving the bullish enthusiasm.

U.S. livestock: CME cattle fall on rallying corn prices
Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) cattle futures turned lower on Monday as corn futures rallied following the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s supply and demand report that lowered corn ending stocks, traders said. Meanwhile, hog futures were mixed as bargain buying counterbalanced seasonal price pressure. CME most-active October feeder cattle FCU24 closed down 2.05 cents at […] Read more