Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were extremely variable over the past week which made the market hard to define. Compared to last week, yearling prices were quoted $2 to as much $6 lower while calves traded $2 lower as much as $5 higher. While some auction crowds were caught up with the negative news coverage, […] Read more
Klassen: Extreme variability characterizes feeder market
A+W starts move to all-grass-fed, all-Canadian beef
Suppliers lined up to begin transition this spring
Canadian burger chain A+W’s next move to distinguish its menu in a crowded quick-service market will be a connection to the regenerative ag movement, as it sets itself up with an all-Canadian and all-grass-fed beef supply. The Vancouver-based chain, which includes almost 1,000 restaurants across Canada, announced Monday it’s “making a commitment to exclusively source […] Read more
More U.S. cattle head North
Reading Time: < 1 minute Live cattle imports from the U.S. are up sharply, says a provincial livestock market analyst. From January to November, nearly 243,000 non-purebred head were imported, an increase of 40 per cent compared to the same period in 2018, said Jason Wood. “Alberta non-purebred cattle imports were more than 145,000 head for the January to November […] Read more
Klassen: Coronavirus fears weigh on feeder markets
Western Canadian feeder prices were not immune to the meltdown of financial and commodity markets last week. Buyers appeared to incorporate a risk discount due to uncertainty in beef demand over the next few months. Compared to last week, larger groups of quality yearlings traded $3-$5 lower while smaller packages were down $4 to as […] Read more
Brooks beef processor now CRSB certified
Reading Time: < 1 minute JBS Canada’s beef facility in Brooks is now a certified sustainable beef processor, after successfully completing a third-party audit under standards set by the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef. “We have set some very aggressive targets in our own 2020 Sustainability plan, and with a lot of hard work, we have met or exceeded our […] Read more
New research will produce tools you can use, says cattle health expert
The new five-year $2.35-million research program will first tackle bovine respiratory disease and Johne’s disease, as well as antimicrobial resistance
Reading Time: 3 minutes A major new research program will help cattle producers manage two key diseases in their herds — and they can expect to have new tools in their hands in just a few years. “We’re looking at new approaches for managing important issues like bovine respiratory disease and other production-limiting diseases such as Johne’s disease,” said […] Read more
Klassen: Calves remain firm while yearlings falter
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $3-$5 lower while calves and grassers traded within $5 on either side of unchanged. Calves were extremely variable with similar weight cattle sometimes trading $6-$8 apart at the same sale. Supplies of calves coming on the market appear to be lower than last year. This may […] Read more
Ontario offers cash for abattoir upgrades
Applications now being accepted through April
Ontario’s 123 provincially-licensed abattoirs can now start applying for a piece of $2 million in federal/provincial funding to step up food safety, biosecurity and animal welfare measures. The Ontario and federal governments on Wednesday announced applications for cost-share funding can be submitted between now and April 30, “as long as funding for the initiative is […] Read more
Klassen: Calf prices divorce from yearling markets
Compared to last week, yearling prices were steady to as much as $4 lower depending on the region in Western Canada. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle at an average price of $252 on a dressed basis, down $6-$8 from last week and down about $20 from the last week of January. Weakness in fed […] Read more
Klassen: Uncertain beef demand weighs on feeder market
Compared to last week, western Canadian prices for yearling and heavier calves were down $2-$4 on average. The calf market was hard to define; Alberta markets traded $3 lower to $4 higher but notable strength was evident in Saskatchewan and Manitoba where values were steady to $4 higher. Favourable weather contributed to higher auction market […] Read more