Livestock
Compared to last week, yearling prices for western Canadian were down $2-$5 on average with the exception of southern Alberta where prices were relatively unchanged. Major feedlots in the Lethbridge area focused on local cattle which contributed to the firmer tone. Outside of Feedlot Alley, weakness in the deferred live cattle futures had buyers on […] Read more
Klassen: Yearling markets mixed
Species-specific webinars on livestock transport regs
Reading Time: < 1 minute A presentation from this spring’s Livestock Care Conference has led to a new webinar series on transport regulations, to be offered by Alberta Farm Animal Care with technical expertise provided by the CFIA. The conference presentation on humane transport by CFIA meat hygiene inspector Nancy Simmons prompted questions that “highlighted the great demand producers have […] Read more
Montreal’s veterinary college to study eastward expansion
Province backs feasibility study for Rimouski-based program
With a eye on expanding livestock veterinary services in the Lower St-Lawrence and Gaspesie, the Quebec government is backing a feasibility study to bring veterinary studies to the region. The province on Thursday announced assistance of $627,946 for 2019-20 for a feasibility study making a business case to offer the Universite de Montreal’s veterinary medicine […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Hog futures hit four-month high on export hopes
Post-Labour Day beef demand in doubt
Chicago | Reuters — Strong export demand for U.S. pork pushed Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures to a four-month high on Friday. Traders are optimistic China, the world’s biggest pork consumer, will remain a strong buyer, after the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported strong weekly export sales on Thursday. Chinese importers have been bringing […] Read more
Lethbridge scientist named outstanding cattle researcher
Karen Beauchemin is a leading global authority on ruminant nutrition
Reading Time: 2 minutes A leader in ruminant nutrition and environmental sustainability of beef production has been awarded the 2020 Canadian Beef Industry Award for Outstanding Research and Innovation. Karen Beauchemin is a principal research scientist of ruminant nutrition at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Lethbridge station as well as an adjunct professor at the universities of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Hogs hit four-month high on strong export sales
CME cattle lower on demand uncertainty
Chicago | Reuters — U.S lean hog futures jumped to a four-month high on Thursday on strong export demand and short covering, while cattle futures weakened. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported net U.S. pork export sales of 53,646 tonnes for the week ended Aug. 27, up 36 per cent from the previous week. China, […] Read more
Saskatchewan extends WLPIP premium rebate if needed
Rebate to offset premium prices, if above pre-COVID levels
Saskatchewan’s temporary subsidy against price jumps in premiums for the Western Livestock Price Insurance Program (WLPIP) will continue when needed to the end of 2020. Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corp. (SCIC), which administers the program in that province, announced Tuesday the WLPIP premium rebate is extended to Dec. 31, from its previous end date of Sept. […] Read more
More than 40 crew missing after cattle ship capsizes in storm off Japan
Rescued crew member says engine failed, wave capsized ship
CORRECTED/UPDATED, Sept. 3 — Tokyo/Wellington | Reuters — More than 40 crew members were missing after a ship carrying cattle from New Zealand to China capsized in stormy weather in the East China Sea, the Japanese coast guard said Thursday. A lone crew member from the Gulf Livestock 1 had been rescued so far. Three […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Live cattle touch late-July lows on demand jitters
U.S. pork export data due out Thursday
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures on Wednesday dropped to their lowest prices since July amid uncertainty about how much U.S. demand will decline as the summer grilling season draws to a close. Beef and cattle prices are often weak this time of year as demand weakens. This year, closures of […] Read more
Beef 911: The goal should always be to produce the healthiest cattle
We need to ditch the notion that high-risk cattle are somehow the most profitable
Reading Time: 3 minutes I’ve heard it said on the feeder side that high-risk cattle are the most profitable. The argument is that when you run the numbers and take into account morbidity, mortality and all other costs, these cattle have the potential to make the most profit at the end of the day. Of course the big factor […] Read more
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