Livestock
Saskatchewan livestock producers wanting to take part in provincial programs will soon have to have a valid premises identification (ID) number. The provincial and federal governments on Thursday announced the new requirement for Saskatchewan producers will take effect “over the coming months.” The province has had a voluntary premises ID (PID) program in place since […] Read more
Saskatchewan taking livestock premises ID mandatory
U.S. livestock: Profit-taking, beef quotes drop CME live cattle
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures were pressured on Wednesday by profit-taking, partly in response to sharply lower wholesale beef values, said traders. February live cattle closed 0.4 cent/lb. lower at 119.125 cents (all figures US$). CME live cattle will return to its normal three-cent trading limit on Thursday after failing […] Read more
Protectionism game comes with raised economic stakes: Frum
As U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration day approaches, the business world is pondering how the new administration might affect the world economy. Trump’s pride in his unpredictability is troubling, given he’s the president-elect, said David Frum, political commentator, former speechwriter for President George W. Bush, and a senior editor for Washington-based magazine The Atlantic. However, […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Cattle limit up on technical buying
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures climbed to a nine-month high on Tuesday, extending gains from the previous session on chart-based and investment fund buying, traders and analysts said. Feeder cattle and lean hog futures also rose at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, with feeders reaching the highest levels since August. Trading limits in […] Read more
Klassen: Demand for shortkeep feeders drives complex higher
Most auction barns were in holiday mode last week, which made the market hard to define. However, comments from local buyers suggest demand is building for shorter-term replacements due to healthy feedlot margins. Small groups were on offer with limited numbers available, and there was a wide range on similar weight classes across the Prairies. […] Read more
Mars to buy animal hospital chain
Canadian veterinary chain Associate Veterinary Clinics (AVC) is set to become an arm of pet food giant Mars. Virginia-based Mars on Monday announced a US$9.1 billion, US$93 per share deal for all outstanding shares of VCA Inc., whose assets cover almost 800 animal hospitals with 60 diagnostic labs across North America. Those assets include Calgary-based […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Cattle gain on bargain-buying
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live and feeder cattle futures gained about one per cent on Monday, rebounding from earlier losses on support from a round of bargain buying, traders and analysts said. Feeders fell to a 3-1/2-week low before reversing higher, while live cattle tested Friday’s multiweek low and then turned higher […] Read more
Animal pharma firm Merial formally joins Boehringer
Global pharma giants Sanofi and Boehringer Ingelheim have formally sealed their deal to merge Sanofi’s global animal health business, Merial, into Boehringer’s. The two companies last week announced their deal has “successfully closed in most markets” as of Jan. 1. Paris-based Sanofi will get Boehringer’s global consumer health care business plus 4.7 billion euros (C$6.6 […] Read more
USDA finds bird flu in Montana wild duck
Chicago | Reuters — The U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Monday it had detected a type of bird flu in a wild duck in central Montana that appeared to match one of the strains found during an outbreak of the disease in 2014 and 2015 that led to the deaths of millions of chickens. […] Read more
Nominations wanted for livestock awards
Nominations close March 1
Reading Time: < 1 minute Nominations are open for the Alberta Farm Animal Care awards of distinction, which recognize individuals or groups who have made exceptional contributions in the field of livestock welfare. There are three award categories: communication, industry leadership, and innovation. If you know an individual or organization whose contributions to animal care enhance their community and inspire […] Read more