Livestock
Canada’s cattle herd should keep shrinking for several years, making it tough for the No. 3 beef exporter to capitalize fully on new overseas opportunities, the head of the country’s new beef industry group said. The Canadian herd fell to an 18-year low of 13.87 million head midway through last year, even as Chicago live […] Read more
Canada cattle herd to shrink despite trade wins
U.S. cattle herd at 60-year low
The U.S. cattle herd has shrunk for the fifth straight year to a 60-year low, a government report showed on Friday, as a devastating drought and record high feed costs hit production, which will likely mean even higher beef prices for consumers. One of the worst droughts since the Dust Bowl days in the 1930s […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle up $2-$3/cwt in West
Light-weight feeder cattle prices in Western Canada were up $3-$5 per hundredweight on average last week while heavier feeders were up $2-$3/cwt. October and December live cattle futures made new contract highs, reaching over $131/cwt, which enhanced buying enthusiasm in the feeder complex. Large-frame age-verified Charolais-cross steers weighing 497 pounds sold for $212/cwt at a […] Read more
Prominent UPA executive to run for PQ
One of the founders and leaders of the international development wing of Quebec’s influential Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA) plans to run for the Parti Quebecois in the next provincial election. PQ leader Pauline Marois introduced cattle producer and grain grower Andre Beaudoin on Friday as the party’s candidate in the Laviolette riding, north of […] Read more
Bull run in U.S. cattle may lose steam, for now
Texas rancher Jim Selman is on the verge of going out of the cattle business, a victim of one of the worst droughts since the Dust Bowl in the 1930s. The more than 300 cattle on his 3,000-acre ranch in Gonzales County have dwindled to a mere seven, as the verdant pastures turned into dried-up […] Read more
ADQ ag critic keeps post in merger with CAQ
The leaders of Quebec’s new third party have named the agriculture critic from the former Action democratique Quebec (ADQ) to keep that post. Janvier Grondin, the MNA for the Beauce-Nord riding until jumping last week to the Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ), was named Wednesday as critic for agriculture, food and fisheries and critic for seniors […] Read more
N.B. orders alleged deer farms shut down
New Brunswick is ordering people at over a dozen locations in the province to either slaughter or ship out captive white-tailed deer they’re alleged to be keeping on their premises. Staff with the province’s natural resources department "have recently hand-delivered letters to each location, advising that all captive white-tailed deer must be disposed of in […] Read more
Canadian pork producers name new chief
The membership of Canada’s national hog industry association has named its first vice-president, Quebec hog producer Jean-Guy Vincent, as its new chairman. The Canadian Pork Council last week elected Vincent, a producer from Ste-Seraphine, about 30 km east of Drummondville, as its chair for the upcoming year. Vincent, who represents the Federation des producteurs de […] Read more
Canadian cattle, sheep, goats cleared for Philippines
The Philippines’ government has reopened the country’s ports to imports of live Canadian cattle, sheep and goats. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and International Trade Minister Ed Fast announced the decision Tuesday, with Fast describing it as “yet another win for Canadian workers and producers and their families.” The Philippines imports about $9 million in live […] Read more
Klassen: Western Canadian feeder cattle surge higher
Western Canadian feeder cattle under 600 pounds were up $8-$10 per hundredweight (cwt) this past week. A small group of exotic steers averaging 570 pounds sold for $170/cwt in west-central Alberta; black Angus-cross steers averaging 535 pounds touched $185/cwt in the same region. Heavier feeders were averaging $5-$8/cwt higher over week-ago levels. A mixed batch […] Read more
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