Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $2-$4 on either side of unchanged. Major feedlot operations in Alberta continue to carry large numbers of market-ready cattle. The backlog of fed cattle appears to be worse than earlier anticipated. Yearlings were featured at auction barns in the main feeding regions of Alberta. Feedlot […] Read more
Klassen: Deferred live cattle futures underpin feeder cattle prices
To build or not to build that new barn? That is a devilish question
Spending big on new facilities isn’t easy and neither is figuring out what will work best in future
Reading Time: 4 minutes Your head has told you for years that your facilities are long overdue for an upgrade. But other areas of the farm always took priority. Finally, after a few years of less than stellar calving conditions in April and not being able to move the squeeze function on your chute because it was constantly frozen, […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle market experiences volatility
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $2 higher to as much as $5 lower depending on the region. Mid-weight calves weighing 650-800 lbs. were relatively unchanged while lighter weight calves were steady to $3 higher on average. June live cattle are off $9 from their mid-February highs while the December 2022 live […] Read more
More calves in the first round is a winning formula
Research council urges producers to consider the payoff from tightening the calving season
Reading Time: 2 minutes According to experts, the winning numbers in the calving lottery are always the same: 60-25-10-5. And the Beef Cattle Research Council wants producers to test that theory by using its Value of Calving Distribution Calculator. Calving distribution is the percentage of calves born in each 21-day cycle during the calving season (which is 63 days […] Read more
Been there, done that: Acclimating heifers to chutes pays dividends
Practice runs through facilities lowers the fear factor and can even reduce open rates, study finds
Reading Time: 3 minutes Just having a less stressful life would have been worth it for Karyn Neilson, but acclimating heifers to handling facilities may also result in more calves. “The minimal time invested into acclimating is well worth the results,” said the Stettler-area producer. It all started when Neilson and husband Lance contacted Olds College inquiring how they […] Read more
Klassen: Surge in feed grain prices shocks feeder cattle market
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $3-$5 lower on average. Feeder cattle weighing 650 to 800 lbs. were relatively unchanged to $3 lower. Calves under 650 lbs. were steady to $4-$6 lower in Alberta, unchanged in Saskatchewan and $3-$5 higher in Manitoba. Fleshier yearlings and calves were heavily discounted last week with […] Read more
JBS to help fund home purchases for Brooks staff
Company offering zero-interest loans for down payments
One of the biggest beef packers operating in Canada is pledging $1.7 million for a one-year pilot program to help employees buy or upgrade homes. JBS Foods Canada, which operates Brazilian meat packer JBS’s plant at Brooks, Alta., on Tuesday announced the launch of what it calls the “Homebuyer Dream Fund,” providing zero-interest loans to […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market shows resilience
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $2-$3 on either side of unchanged. Calves in the range of 600-800 lbs. traded steady to $4 higher. Calves under 600 lbs. were $1-$2 higher in Alberta and Saskatchewan but traded $2-$3 lower in Manitoba. Alberta feedlot operators appeared to shrug off the geopolitical events last […] Read more
Klassen: Weather factors influence calf prices
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $4 lower to as much as $5 higher. Mid-weight feeder cattle traded relatively unchanged with strong demand noted on steers. Steer calves were firm, trading $2-$5 higher while heifer calves traded $4-$5 on either side of unchanged. The market was hard to define for calves and […] Read more
Klassen: Demand increases for lighter-weight feeder cattle
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were unchanged to $4 higher. Mid-weight feeders from 660 to 750 pounds traded $2 to as much as $6 higher on average. Feeder cattle in the 550- to 650-lb. range traded $4 to as much as $10 higher. Feeder cattle under 550 lbs. were up $10-$20 depending […] Read more
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