Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta Agriculture and Forestry has a new fact sheet on pricing meat products. “When you sell direct to market, there is a lot more involved than production,” said new-venture specialist Kathy Bosse. You also have to manage processing, packaging and delivery and think about consumer demand. “The new Pricing Meat Products: An Introduction fact sheet covers […] Read more
Just how much is that roast beef worth?
Klassen: Feedlots curb buying interest
Despair is the price one pays for setting an impossible aim. Given the phone calls over the past week, producers have been expecting something the market cannot offer. Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were under severe pressure, with 700-plus-pound cattle down $8-$12 from seven days earlier; calves under 700 lbs. traded $4-$8 below week-ago levels. […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle prices stabilize
Western Canadian feeder cattle prices stabilized over the past week, trading $5 to $8 higher in comparison to seven days earlier. In Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan, calves traded up $10 to $15 higher largely due to a resumption in U.S. buying interest. The market was functioning to encourage demand, and with prices $25 to $30 […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Higher cash price outlook lifts CME live cattle
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures gained on Wednesday, supported by rising wholesale beef values that could help strengthen cash prices as early as Thursday, traders said. Spot October closed 1.325 cents/lb. higher at 133.75 cents, and December up 0.225 cent to 137.425 (all figures US$). Wednesday afternoon’s wholesale choice beef […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Bump in beef price extends CME live cattle gains
Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle rose for a third straight session Thursday, helped by more short-covering following a morning jump in wholesale beef quotes, traders said. Spot October finished 1.825 cents/lb. higher at 131.175 cents, and December up 1.525 cents at 137.675 (all figures US$). Thursday morning’s wholesale choice beef price, […] Read more
Volatility prompts CME to raise live cattle margins
Chicago | Reuters — CME Group, the world’s largest livestock futures market operator, has raised margin rates for live cattle futures for the second week in a row after dramatic swings in the market, an exchange spokesman told Reuters on Thursday. Late on Wednesday the Chicago Mercantile Exchange raised its live cattle initial margins for […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Short-covering drives CME live cattle higher
Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle closed higher on Wednesday, fuelled by active short-covering in anticipation of cash and wholesale beef prices bottoming out soon, traders said. Spot October finished 4.225 cents/lb. higher at 129.35 cents, and December up 2.925 cents at 136.15 (all figures US$). “So many of these holders of […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle limit up on beef bounce
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle finished up their three-cent-per-pound daily price limit on Tuesday, driven by short-covering and bargain hunting following the spike in wholesale beef prices, traders said. Spot October and December finished at 125.125 and 133.225 cents, respectively (all figures US$). Live cattle’s trading limit will be expanded to […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle prices collapse
Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were traded $15 to $25 below week-ago levels, suffering one of the largest declines in history. Heavier replacement cattle led the market lower, trading down $20 from week-ago levels, while feeders under 600 pounds dropped $10 to $12 on average. Feedlot operators pulled in the reins, as fed cattle dropped […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle market remains under pressure
Western Canadian feeder cattle prices traded $3 to $7 lower in comparison to week-ago levels as the market continues to digest the weaker fed market and softer wholesale beef values. Feedlot operators were more cautious, realizing the current prices don’t pencil profitably, while the deferred live cattle futures dropped like a power window. Financial risk […] Read more
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