Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures on Thursday soared to their highest prices in more than 10 months, as meat demand continued to strain processor capacity and COVID-19 cases are rising in the United States, traders said. Thursday’s daily U.S. hog slaughter was 490,000 head — 2,000 fewer than the same period last […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Lean hog futures climb to more than 10-month high
Live cattle lower on new lockdown concerns for beef demand
U of Calgary professor wins cattle welfare award
Reading Time: < 1 minute University of Calgary animal health professor Dr. Karin Orsel has won a cattle welfare award for “her transformational contributions to the advancement of care in the bovine species.” “Dr. Orsel is a world leader in bovine health, and mentor to veterinarians, researchers and producers across Alberta and beyond,” said Jocelyn Dubuc, president of the Canadian […] Read more

Pilgrim’s Pride strikes deal over U.S. chicken price-fixing charges
Reuters — U.S. poultry company Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. said Wednesday it will pay a US$110.5 million fine after striking a plea deal with the Justice Department over price-fixing charges on chicken products. The guilty plea makes Pilgrim’s Pride, mostly owned by Brazilian meatpacker JBS, the first U.S. chicken company to reach an agreement with the […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Lean hogs up on lower-than-expected inventory
CME live cattle follow cash cattle lower
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures climbed on Wednesday as traders grappled with mounting confusion on lower-than-expected slaughter rates, traders said. Wednesday’s daily U.S. hog slaughter was 489,000 head — or 2,000 fewer than the same period last year, according to data published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. For the week to […] Read more

JBS parent pleads guilty to U.S. foreign bribery charges
New York/Rio de Janeiro | Reuters — Brazil’s J+F Investimentos, parent company of the world’s largest meatpacker, JBS, pleaded guilty to U.S. foreign bribery charges and agreed to pay US$128.25 million in criminal fines, prosecutors said on Wednesday. J+F is paying only half of the $256.5 million fines levied due to settlements made with Brazilian […] Read more

Health concerns surrounding glyphosate use are increasing
The herbicide is being linked to chronic inflammation and disease in humans, and that has implications for horses
Reading Time: 3 minutes The implications for the widespread use of glyphosate-based herbicides in our environment has been increasingly mired in controversy despite regulatory assurances of safety. After close to three decades of use, there is a growing body of scientific evidence of unintended biological consequences, including implicating glyphosate use as a contributing factor to the rising incidence of […] Read more

New online training program for horse caregivers
The videos cover sections of the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Equines
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Horse Welfare Alliance of Canada has launched an online training program in an effort to increase awareness around nationally developed guidelines for the care and handling of equines. “This new video series provides a timely refresher about management and welfare practices for the animals in our care,” said project coordinator Mikki Shatosky. “Be it […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures rebound on wholesale strength
Softening cash market drags on hog futures
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures rebounded on Tuesday, correcting after the biggest drop since June 30, amid a stronger wholesale market, traders said. Lean hogs stepped back for a second day, reflecting a softer cash market, while feeder cattle followed the cash market higher. Chicago Mercantile Exchange December live cattle futures added […] Read more

Klassen: Feeder market digests rising COVID-19 cases
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were relatively unchanged while calves traded steady to $2 lower on average. The grain harvest is in its final stages and buying interest was noted from the farmer/backgrounding operator. The buying frenzy over yearlings has eased and finishing feedlots were active on all weight categories. Feather-light calves […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Futures slip on seasonal pressure
Slaughter backlogs remain a drag on live cattle
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures fell on Monday, pressured by a softening in seasonal demand and the continued impact from backlogs at slaughterhouses, traders said. Lean hogs also eased on profit taking, while feeder cattle also followed live cattle for a loss. CME October live cattle futures fell 1.525 cents, to 108.35 […] Read more