Western Canadian feeder cattle prices experienced a mixed tone this past week. Heavier weaned calves were trading steady to as much as $4 higher compared to last week; however, shorter-term replacements were steady to $3 lower. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle in the range of $170 to $172, down from week-ago levels of $177. […] Read more
Klassen: Limited demand means mixed tone for feeders
Klassen: Feeder cattle upward trend stalls
Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were relatively unchanged from week-ago levels. Noticeable slippage was noted in shorter-keep cattle while lighter weight categories experienced spurts of $2-$3 above last week’s prices. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle at $292 on a dressed basis, up about $4-$6 from week-ago levels. However, auction rings experienced a subdued tone […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle continue upward trend
Western Canadian feeder cattle prices traded $3-$5 above week-ago levels with lighter weight categories selling $6 to $8 higher. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle in the range of $286 to $288 on a dressed basis, up from $278 last week. This equates to $172-$174 on a live basis, a solid $35 above break-even pen […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Live cattle hit two-month high on cash optimism
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures rose to two-month highs on Tuesday as wholesale beef prices extended gains, stoking optimism for higher prices this week in Plains cash cattle markets, traders and analysts said. Feeder cattle futures also were higher, while lean hogs fell for the fifth straight session. “There continues […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Cattle hit new highs on technical buying, beef gains
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures climbed to a fresh seven-week high on Friday while feeder cattle reached the highest levels since August on support from technical buying and gains in wholesale beef prices, traders said. Chicago Mercantile Exchange futures tracked gains earlier this week in Plains cash cattle markets, with meat packers […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Live cattle hit seven-week high on packer margins
CORRECTED, March 17 — Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures rose to a seven-week high on Thursday, boosted by recent gains in beef prices that increased profit margins for meat packers, traders and analysts said. Technical buying also was noted, with some investors buying back positions in front-month Chicago Mercantile Exchange April live […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Cattle gain on higher beef prices, lower corn
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. cattle futures rose about one per cent on Friday, with feeder cattle extending gains to the third straight session as wholesale beef prices rose and corn prices fell. Higher prices for meat and lower prices for animal feed boost profits in the cattle sector. Greening pastures also increased demand for […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Live cattle sink on technical selling
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures eased on Monday on profit-taking and technical selling, although losses were limited by firm wholesale beef prices and the discount of futures to cash prices, traders said. April live cattle closed down 0.425 cent/lb. to 115.55 cents, slipping below the contract’s 50-day moving average around […] Read more
Klassen: Healthy margins drive feeder complex
Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded steady to $5 higher compared to week-ago levels. Buyers were quite meticulous on flesh levels and quality features in the heavier weight categories; however, feedlot operators were definitely more aggressive this week. Major operations have liquidated a fair amount of fed cattle and these players are anxious to reload […] Read more
Klassen: Fed cattle uncertainty restricts upside in feeders
Western Canadian feeder cattle were actively trading $3-$5 higher compared to week-ago levels. Order buyers felt like they were groping in the dark but realized there was a fair amount of buying interest by the week’s end. Alberta and Ontario orders were floating aggressively into Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan, which kept the market flat across […] Read more
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