Buyers kept a respectful distance from the market early in the week. Western Canadian feeder cattle markets were lackadaisical due to the bearish sentiment of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Cattle on Feed report. However, by Friday, all weight categories were trading steady with week-ago levels. Feedlot operators were bent upon ownership with an insatiable […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market holds values through volatility
Klassen: Strong Canadian dollar weighs on feeder market
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were down $3-$6 on average while calf values dropped $5 to as much as $10 in some cases. Most auction barns held feature yearling sales last week; there were small groups of calves available but the market was quite variable and hard to define in the lighter […] Read more
Young Albertan brings cattle perspective to global conference
Reading Time: 3 minutes Cameron Olson is a young beef scientist who is going places. The 24-year-old from Rocky View, is one of four Canadian agricultural leaders participating in Bayer’s Youth Ag Summit in Brussels in October. “My intent for being part of this conference is to make sure animal agriculture is represented as well as crop,” said Olson, […] Read more
Dispelling the myths about steroid use in beef production
Beef 911: Talk about ‘steroid-free beef’ is misleading — they are rarely used and only for very specific reasons
Reading Time: 3 minutes There has been lots said lately about added steroids in beef. Although steroids are used for very specific treatments regarding specific conditions, their use if anything is minimal and has been greatly reduced even further with the NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). This article will go over specific uses where steroids produce beneficial results to our […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle market stabilizes
After the recent rally, cattle buyers noted that price spreads between weight categories came back in line with traditional levels this week. Shorter-keep yearlings were steady to $4 weaker compared to seven days earlier; mid-weight cattle from 700 to 800 lbs. were relatively unchanged while feeders under 700 lbs. were $4 to $8 higher. On […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle prices surge
Western Canadian feeder cattle prices once again traded $3-$5 above week-ago levels, with shorter-keep quality cattle as much as $8 higher. Historically strong feeding margins, along with triple-digit gains in the futures market from Wednesday through Friday, set the positive tone. Feedlots that were holding back on purchases finally stepped forward, pushing the market to […] Read more
Klassen: Feedlot operators aggressively bid up feeders
Western Canadian feeder cattle continued the upward trend trading $5 to $8 above week-ago levels on average with higher quality feeders as much as $12 higher. Alberta packers were buying cattle near $177 on a live basis, which is about $35 above breakeven pen closeouts. Ongoing strength in the fed cattle market set a positive […] Read more
Klassen: Renewed confidence lifts feeder cattle market
Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $3-$5 above week-ago levels on average; stronger buying interest was noted on short-keep cattle with prices quoted $5 to as much as $8 higher. Feedlot operators stepped forward more aggressively with ideas that yearling supplies will dwindle over the next month. Quality cattle are starting to thin out at […] Read more
New beef research fact sheets available
Reading Time: < 1 minute Fact sheets on two research projects funded by Alberta Beef Producers are now available at www.albertabeef.org. Impact of Trace Minerals and Infectious Disease on Reproductive Performance examines the effect of trace mineral deficiencies (which reduce growth, milk production, and reproductive rate, and also cause a variety of metabolic diseases) in high-risk geographical regions. Investigating Lameness […] Read more
JBS weighs suspending U.S. IPO
Sao Paulo | Reuters — Brazil’s JBS SA, the world’s biggest meatpacking company, will decide in coming days whether to suspend listing its overseas operations after a corruption scandal, newspaper Folha de S. Paulo said Monday. A person involved in the deal told Reuters last week JBS had no intention of delaying the US$1 billion […] Read more
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