Livestock
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle futures were higher on Wednesday, extending earlier small gains after government supply reports showed fewer-than-expected U.S. cattle supplies, traders said. U.S. Department of Agriculture monthly Cattle on Feed data showed 11.692 million cattle in U.S. feedlots as of Nov. 1. That figure was three per cent higher […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Cattle futures rally after bullish USDA data
U.S. livestock: Hogs fall after contract highs on profit-taking
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures tumbled three per cent on Tuesday, reversing after hitting contract highs as investors locked in profits ahead of Thursday’s U.S. Thanksgiving Day holiday, traders said. Hog futures had gained in eight out of the past nine sessions on hopes of stronger pork demand, especially in […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Hogs rise to contract highs on export optimism
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures rose to life-of-contract highs on Monday, extending steep gains from last week on optimism for robust exports of U.S. pork due to the worsening African swine fever virus outbreak in China, traders said. China, the top world hog producer and pork consumer, has culled its swine herd […] Read more
Klassen: Softer demand causes feeder prices to weaken
Compared to last week, Alberta feeder cattle markets traded $4 to as much as $8 lower; however, Manitoba and Saskatchewan prices experienced a week-over-week decline of $3 to $5 on average. Demand from Eastern Canada appeared to limit slippage in the eastern Prairie regions but some of these markets also faltered late in the week. […] Read more
Bovine TB case turns up in southern B.C.
Federal food safety officials are now looking into the life story of a slaughtered British Columbia beef cow confirmed with bovine tuberculosis. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency on Monday announced it has launched an investigation after a mature beef cow was confirmed Nov. 9 with bovine TB. The case comes a few months after the […] Read more
Some points to consider when shopping for horse hay
Our own senses are wonderful tools — choose hay that is as fine stemmed, green, and as leafy as possible
Reading Time: 4 minutes Hay selection is an important aspect of horse ownership. The type and quality of hay the horse eats can make a big difference in its overall nutrition, and its value in a horse’s diet is unquestionable. The extra dollars spent on sourcing good-quality hay and its proper storage is invariably cost effective on many levels […] Read more
Parmalat to buy Kraft’s Ontario cheese plant, brands
U.S. food processing giant Kraft Heinz is taking one step back from the Canadian dairy processing business with a deal to sell its eastern Ontario cheese plant and the brands made there. The company announced Nov. 6 it has a deal in hand to sell its Canadian “natural cheese” business and its cheese plant at […] Read more
Loose housing is a winning approach, says Canadian pork giant
Open sow housing is better for pigs, people, and profits, says Maple Leaf Foods executive
Reading Time: 4 minutes Many questioned whether it would work, but Maple Leaf Foods says open housing is a superior way to raise sows — and will have that system in all of its barns years before it becomes mandatory. “This is part of our vision to be the most sustainable protein company on Earth — part of that […] Read more
Ten more counties eligible for tax relief
Livestock tax deferral program assists livestock producers who had to cull their herd this year
Reading Time: < 1 minute Another 10 Alberta municipalities are now eligible for the federal government’s livestock tax deferral program. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s initial list of eligible municipalities issued in September has been expanded to include many counties passed over the first time. Municipalities are only eligible for the program if forage yields fall below 50 per cent of […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Hogs rise on technical buying, demand outlook
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures firmed for a fourth straight session on Thursday, lifted by technical buying and good demand for pork, traders said. Persistent concerns about the spread of African swine fever in China, the world’s top hog and pork producer, also underpinned prices as forecasts for big global […] Read more