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U.S. livestock: Hog futures mixed; cattle futures steady-weak

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures ended mixed on Friday as traders waited for fresh news to gauge demand levels. The most-active CME December lean hog futures contract LHZ2 dropped 0.625 cent to 77.15 cents per lb, with support noted around the contract’s 10-day moving average. Front-month October hogs LHV2 rose 0.575 cents to settle […] Read more

Cows seem to like the flavour of garlic, but it needs to be fresh, says Lakeland College researcher Obioha Durunna, pictured here at the school’s Livestock Field Day this summer.

Bovine Gastronomy: It turns out that garlic pairs well with minerals

Alberta researcher finds cattle will consume more mineral if it’s flavoured with fresh garlic

Reading Time: 3 minutes Just like many people do, cattle enjoy the taste of garlic, and as with humans, many swear the ‘stinking rose’ offers numerous health benefits for bovines. Garlic is rumoured to entice cattle to consume more minerals, have anti-fungal properties and even discourage horn flies from pestering them. “You would find these anecdotes on blogs,” said […] Read more


Photo: Canada Beef Inc.

Klassen: Demand fears cause feeder cattle market volatility

Barley values continue upward

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $4 higher to as much as $6 lower. Strength was noted in the eastern Prairie regions while the market was softer in Alberta. Western Canadian calves were extremely volatile, trading $5 higher to as much as $10 lower in some cases. It’s not uncommon for markets […] Read more



Photo: Canada Beef

Klassen: Steady demand underpins feeder cattle complex

Compared to last week, Alberta yearling markets traded $2-$4 on either side of unchanged; however, 800-pound-plus cattle in Manitoba and Saskatchewan appeared to trade $4-$6 higher. Yearling prices across the Prairies are now relatively even with no freight discounts from major southern Alberta markets. Calf markets are becoming more defined with larger volumes on offer. […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Weaker Canadian dollar supports feeder market

Weather optimal for bringing in fresh replacements

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearlings traded steady to $2 higher on average while calves traded $2 higher to $4 lower. The calf market was hard to define due to limited numbers while larger supplies of yearlings were on offer in Manitoba this past week. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed […] Read more


CME April 2023 live cattle (candlesticks) with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

Klassen: April live cattle futures pull nearby cash feeder market higher

More feedlots switching back to barley

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded steady to $3 higher on average. Quality yearling packages of larger volume traded $2-$3 above week-ago levels. The calf market is becoming more defined. Larger calf volumes were on offer in Saskatchewan and Manitoba but smaller numbers were noted in Alberta. Therefore, we can’t accurately compare […] Read more

After a string of tough years, optimism has returned thanks to stronger prices and falling feed costs, says Gem-area rancher Daniel Doerksen.

A NEW DAWN: Cattle producers get some relief with higher prices

Fall run looks promising for beleaguered cow-calf producers

Reading Time: 5 minutes Daniel Doerksen is one of many in the cattle sector who are feeling more positive as prices pick up. “To see cattle prices finally increasing is a reason to be optimistic and want to be in the cattle business,” said Doerksen, who runs a commercial cow-calf and feedstock operation along with a feedlot near Gem. […] Read more



(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder markets digest StatCan data

Barley crop expected up 34 per cent on year

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded steady to $2 higher. Yearling prices have strengthened by $8-$10 over the past four weeks. Calf values were relatively unchanged but the market was hard to define due to limited volumes. Alberta packers were buying on a dressed basis from $300 to $302 delivered, up $1-$2 […] Read more