Livestock
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange’s April and May feeder cattle futures hit fresh contract highs on Tuesday on tight supplies, as analysts said they expected cattle placements to continue to trend down, traders said. Meanwhile, CME May lean hogs hit a contract low of 78.5 cents/lb., before closing down 2.175 cents at 78.825 […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME feeder cattle hit new highs
Chicago lean hogs hit new low
Seaweed saviour? Marine algae touted as fix for cattle burps
Everyone’s hyped over GHG-fighting seaweed, but is it safe and does it make sense?
Reading Time: 5 minutes Cow burps continue to be headline news, with many — from Bill Gates to a Calgary startup — backing seaweed to save the planet from methane-belching cattle. But despite the hype, slipping a little seaweed into cattle feed is unproven science that needs more study, says one of the leading experts on the issue. “The […] Read more
Foot-and-mouth vaccine bank cheered by livestock groups
An outbreak would slam the border shut and vaccinations would be key in re-opening it
Reading Time: 2 minutes Livestock groups are hailing Ottawa’s pledge to set up a foot-and-mouth disease vaccine bank. “The Canadian beef industry breathed a collective sigh of relief to learn a foot-and-mouth disease vaccine bank is on the horizon,” Alberta Beef Producers said in a report on its website. Livestock organizations have been asking for a vaccine bank for […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market factors in lower barley prices
Strength in deferred live cattle futures also supportive
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearlings over 800 lbs. jumped $4 to as much as $10 in some cases. Steers in the 700- to 800-lb. category appeared to be up $10-$12 while similar-weight heifers were up $8-$10. Calves under 700 lbs. were up $10-$20. The feeder market was hard to define in some cases. […] Read more
JBS to pay US$25 million in latest beef price-fixing settlement
Settlement calls for co-operation in cases against other defendants
Reuters — JBS SA has agreed to pay US$25 million to commercial beef purchasers that accused the meat-packing company of conspiring with industry rivals to restrict market supply in order to keep prices artificially high. The proposed settlement in Minnesota federal court was disclosed on Friday from plaintiffs’ lawyers representing a class of businesses that […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME feeder cattle hit new highs on supplies, cash market
Live cattle, lean hogs also up
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange feeder cattle futures hit new all-time highs in the nearby contracts on Monday, as bidding wars continue to rally cash prices as more producers show interest in expanding their herds, traders said. The rally helped give a boost to the pork market, where CME April lean hogs ended […] Read more
U.S. begins testing bird flu vaccines for poultry after record outbreak
Four vaccines to be tested
Chicago | Reuters — The U.S. government is testing four potential bird flu vaccines for poultry, officials said on Friday, after more than 58 million chickens, turkeys and other birds have died in the nation’s worst outbreak ever. The trials, conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Research Service, are the first step […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle pull back from all-time highs
Chicago lean hogs up off contract lows
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures retreated on Friday after racing to all-time highs during the previous three sessions as tightening U.S. supplies rallied cash prices. Profit-taking and technical pressured futures following the surge, though the market could still post new highs moving forward, analysts said. Surging cash prices this week […] Read more
Olymel to shut one Quebec hog slaughter plant
New provincial hog supply agreement in works as Vallee-Jonction facility set to close
Quebec-based meat packer Olymel’s bid to stem losses in its fresh pork business now includes closing down one of its five Canadian hog slaughter plants. Olymel, the protein arm of Sollio Co-operative, announced Friday it will wind down operations at its hog slaughter, cutting and deboning plant at Vallee-Jonction, Que. and permanently close the facility […] Read more
Putting a rotational grazing plan into action
CFGA is working with provincial partners to distribute funds for those taking an online program
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Canadian Forage and Grassland Association (CFGA) has developed an online platform to help producers learn more about rotational grazing and how it can be adopted to their farm. “Whether you’re managing a large operation that keeps you on the farm, have an off-farm job or possible family commitments, this program was designed for people […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
