Livestock
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures on Tuesday fell for a third consecutive session, dragged down by weaker cash and wholesale pork prices amid abundant seasonal supplies, said traders. December closed down 0.775 cent/lb. to 46.125 cents, and February ended 0.7 cent/lb. lower at 52.9 cents (all figures US$). “There are […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Ample supplies drop hogs
Consumer concerns about meat are no fad
Animal welfare expert says livestock producers need to both ‘raise the bar’ and speak up about improvements they’re making
Reading Time: 3 minutes Global concerns about animal welfare are having an impact on meat purchasing, and the food industry needs to adapt to this new reality. “For the vast majority, price, taste and convenience have been key — but one of the issues that goes across the board now is transparency,” said Lesley Mitchell, international head of policy […] Read more
BIXS launches buying club
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Beef InfoXchange System (BIXS) has launched a buying club for those enrolled in its data collection system. The club will offer producers “deep discounts from retail partners,” said BIXS president and CEO Hubert Lau. There’s a $50 annual fee for joining the club but it’s not charged until a participant’s savings have reached $100, […] Read more
Klassen: Strong demand underpins feeder market
Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded steady to $3 above week-ago levels; however, weaned lower-flesh calves were $3 to as much as $6 higher. Southern Alberta calf sales are winding down while other regions are just getting started. This resulted in surreptitious behaviour from Lethbridge-area feedlot operators. Orders stretched across the Prairies, like a slow-moving […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle finish mostly firmer
Chicago | Reuters — Most Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle contracts on Monday finished modestly higher after investors sold December futures and simultaneously bought deferred months in a trading strategy known as bear-spreading, traders said. December live cattle closed down 0.025 cent per pound at 105.575 cents (all figures US$). February ended up 0.225 cent […] Read more
Bovine TB quarantines push into Saskatchewan
Two farms in southwestern Saskatchewan have been added to the list of those under federal quarantine as inspectors widen their search for cattle exposed to a new-to-Canada strain of bovine tuberculosis (TB). As of Thursday, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said it had “approximately 33” farms in Alberta and two in Saskatchewan under quarantine. The […] Read more
Despite challenges, Farmfair International soldiers on
Industry continues to support long-running Edmonton-based ag show and the number of exhibitors and foreign attendees is up
Reading Time: 4 minutes It’s been a year of mixed blessings for Edmonton’s Farmfair International. On the one hand, international interest in the long-running agriculture show is at an all-time high and local support appears as positive as ever. On the other, debate over the future ownership of Northlands’ facilities has put the future of the show’s longtime home […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle futures climb as cash price outlook improves
Chicago/Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures on Thursday gained for a third straight day, driven by short-covering following renewed optimism for cash prices by Friday, traders said. December and February contracts broke through their respective 10-day moving averages of 102.90 and 104.86 cents, which triggered fund buying. December live cattle closed 1.025 cents […] Read more
Record U.S. hog slaughter puts pressure on Canadian pork prices
CNSC/Winnipeg – A record week for U.S. slaughterhouses is weighing on hog prices in Canada. According to the USDA, hogs slaughtered under federal inspection for the week ended November 5 were pegged at 2.532 million head, which is an all-time record. That number is also up 7.2 per cent from the 2.362 million head processed a […] Read more
Thinking like a consumer is key to beef industry’s success
Look at your product from your customers’ point of view as opposed to ours, says president of Certified Angus Beef
Reading Time: 3 minutes If you deliver the value that consumers want, they will come. And that’s the best way to drive profits in the beef industry. “If we involve them (consumers) in the process in one form or another, we can find a way to move forward that is financially rewarding for production agriculture and deliver a product […] Read more