Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $2-$3 on either side of unchanged and mid-weight feeders (600-850 lbs.) were steady to $2 lower, but calves under 600 lbs. were unchanged to as much as $10 lower. Prices were quite variable across the Prairies, which made the market hard to define. The market appeared […] Read more
Klassen: Large feedlot inventories lower feeder demand
Klassen: Feeder market starts 2020 on steady tone
Compared to last week, short-keep replacement cattle and feeders in the mid-weight categories were steady to $3 lower on average; feeder cattle under 600 lbs. traded $2 lower to as much as $5 higher. Featherlight calves remain strong trading at similar levels to late December. Most auction markets resumed their regular sales schedules last week. […] Read more
Are you willing to share animal traits info?
Reading Time: < 1 minute Cow-calf producers in Alberta are being asked to take a survey aimed at improving the productivity of the industry. Researchers at the University of Alberta are conducting the survey on the willingness of commercial cow-calf producers to accept compensation for sharing their animal traits information and the willingness of breeding associations to pay to obtain […] Read more
Trade deal hailed by Canadian Cattlemen’s Association
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association is hailing the completion of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement and encouraging its swift ratification. “The experience of the North American beef cattle industries under NAFTA is testament to the value of trade agreements,” it said. “Access to global markets, including the North American market, means that on average that each animal […] Read more
A year with more ups than downs, say these cattle producers
It wasn’t without its challenges, but 2019 worked out better than many had feared
Reading Time: 5 minutes This past year may have been a better year for Alberta’s cattle producers than 2018 was, but you’d be hard pressed to find many who would call it good. Between uncertain feed supplies, whiplash-inducing weather conditions, and variable cattle markets, producers across the province had to dig into their reserves, find a degree of patience, […] Read more
Sustainable beef production sees sharp increase
Reading Time: < 1 minute Production of certified sustainable beef has increased sharply in the past year, says the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef. “We are excited to see such strong growth in the certification program over the past year, with a 45 per cent increase in the volume of beef that has been sold through the program, and a […] Read more
Klassen: Fed cattle market underpins feeder cattle prices
Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis at an average price of $275 delivered, which equates to $165 on a live basis. Fed cattle prices are now at 52-week highs and feeding margins are in the range of $50 to $70 per head. Strength in the cash fed cattle market was supportive […] Read more
Amended CUSMA pact includes anti-COOL clause
The new Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), a free trade deal set to replace NAFTA, includes language meant to block any future bids at a trade-disrupting country-of-origin labeling (COOL) law. The new clause would, in theory, checkmate a move made last summer by some Democrat members of the U.S. House of Representatives to have a new North […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market remains firm
Feeder cattle markets experienced light volumes during the final week of December and prices were relatively unchanged compared to week-ago levels. Yearling values were slightly softer, as these cattle will not have enough time to be ready for the April fed market. Buying interest for mid-weight categories was characterized as sluggish, while light-weight bawlers were […] Read more
Klassen: Improving margins support lightweight feeder cattle
Compared to last week, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $2 to $4 on either side of unchanged; however, calves under 650 pounds were steady to as much as $5 higher. Bids from Alberta packers were sharply higher with fed cattle trading in the range of $160 to $162 on Friday, up $5 to $6 […] Read more