Livestock
Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded steady to $3 higher. Strength in the deferred live cattle futures, particularly the April contract, spilt over into the cash feeder market. Limited supplies of yearlings also contributed to the firmer tone. Feedlots have been patiently securing heavier replacements, but we’re now on the home […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market eyes April live cattle futures
Florence shuts down U.S. slaughterhouses
Chicago/Los Angeles | Reuters — U.S. food companies kept slaughter plants shut on Monday in southeastern states swamped by Hurricane Florence as flash floods collapsed the walls of at least two hog manure pits, made roads undriveable and delayed rail shipments. Catastrophic flooding from Hurricane Florence, which has dumped up to 36 inches of rain […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Live cattle mixed on profit-taking
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures settled narrowly mixed on Monday, with some contracts easing slightly after prices surged to six-month highs following strong sales in cash markets late on Friday, traders said. Front-month October live cattle jumped to a peak of 113.975 cents/lb., highest since March 14, before settling at 113.425 cents, […] Read more
Canadian hog prices on rebound
CNS Canada — Improving trade relations and the emergence of swine fever in China have made their presence felt on the Canadian hog market. Weekly signature No. 5 base slaughter weight cash hog prices averaged $117.83 per 100 kg as of Friday, up by roughly $15 over the past two weeks. Those numbers are a […] Read more
Trucker shortage troublesome for Prairie cattle industry
CNS Canada — As large volumes of cattle make their way to western Canadian auction marts this fall, buyers are having problems finding truckers to haul them. Those problems may get worse in the future, as federal regulations for cattle hauling could possibly change. “I would say it’s worse this year than other years so […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Live cattle rally to six-month high on strong demand
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures ended sharply higher to limit up on Friday on in a short-covering and technical buying rally to six-month peaks fueled by strong demand for beef and expectations for higher cash market prices this week. Cattle traders are still waiting for more widespread cash deals to develop at […] Read more
‘Buyer beware’ on Canada’s cheese concessions, EU exporters say
Toronto/Brussels | Reuters — A trade deal meant to give European cheesemakers more access to the Canadian market is falling short of its promise in its first full year, government data show, frustrating the European industry, which blames a year-old Ottawa quota system. Under the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with the European Union, […] Read more
New bid to boost beef research
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Beef Cattle Research Council wants to establish research chairs. “Currently, a shortage of scientific experts and research capacity in some areas of beef, cattle and forage research are hindering the ability to conduct priority research that supports improvements in productivity and demand and responds to emerging issues,” the council says. It is calling for […] Read more
Trudeau says good NAFTA deal wanted soon, hazy on deadline
Saskatoon | Reuters — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday he wanted a good NAFTA deal as soon as possible, but did not answer directly when asked if he agreed with Washington that the end of September was the final deadline for talks. Canada and the U.S. are struggling to settle differences over access […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Live cattle end mixed
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures ended mixed on Thursday as nearby contracts were anchored by their premium to cash market prices while deferred months firmed to contract highs on a strong demand outlook, traders said. Feeder cattle futures followed deferred live cattle contracts higher, along with continued support from a slumping corn […] Read more