Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $3-$5 lower on average. Feeder cattle weighing 650 to 800 lbs. were relatively unchanged to $3 lower. Calves under 650 lbs. were steady to $4-$6 lower in Alberta, unchanged in Saskatchewan and $3-$5 higher in Manitoba. Fleshier yearlings and calves were heavily discounted last week with […] Read more
Klassen: Surge in feed grain prices shocks feeder cattle market
Videos are an easy way to add to your skill set on the farm
Having an expert show how to investigate or fix a problem is a great way to learn
Reading Time: 3 minutes We can always pick up ways to improve our cattle operations. One method is to ask lots of questions of the right people. Another is reading and investigating specific topics. And an increasingly popular way is to watch instructive videos. The issue here is making sure the source is ethical, reliable and not sensationalized. A […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market shows resilience
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $2-$3 on either side of unchanged. Calves in the range of 600-800 lbs. traded steady to $4 higher. Calves under 600 lbs. were $1-$2 higher in Alberta and Saskatchewan but traded $2-$3 lower in Manitoba. Alberta feedlot operators appeared to shrug off the geopolitical events last […] Read more
Klassen: Weather factors influence calf prices
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $4 lower to as much as $5 higher. Mid-weight feeder cattle traded relatively unchanged with strong demand noted on steers. Steer calves were firm, trading $2-$5 higher while heifer calves traded $4-$5 on either side of unchanged. The market was hard to define for calves and […] Read more
Klassen: Demand increases for lighter-weight feeder cattle
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were unchanged to $4 higher. Mid-weight feeders from 660 to 750 pounds traded $2 to as much as $6 higher on average. Feeder cattle in the 550- to 650-lb. range traded $4 to as much as $10 higher. Feeder cattle under 550 lbs. were up $10-$20 depending […] Read more
Klassen: Diverse price behaviour seen in feeder market
Last week’s price action in western Canadian feeder markets was quite variable. Yearling prices were steady to $4 lower on average across the Prairies. Mid-weight cattle were down $3-$4 in Alberta and $2-$4 higher in Manitoba. Calf prices were also mixed. In eastern Saskatchewan and Manitoba, calves traded $2 to as much as $8 above […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market establishes short-term stability
Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle traded $2-$4 on either side of unchanged. Steady demand was noted on 800-plus-pound cattle, but calves and lighter weights experienced softer buying interest. Favourable weather and optimal pen conditions along with firmer live cattle futures supported the yearling market. Imports of U.S. corn continue to run 10-14 […] Read more
You gotta know how to hold ’em when inserting a feeding tube in a calf
Tube feeding a calf is often a critical intervention but you need to have a good technique
Reading Time: 2 minutes The Beef Cattle Research Council has released a new video called “The Ins and Outs of Esophageal Feeding.” The title is a reference to one of the main points of the video, namely that when tube feeding a calf, the feeding tube should go easily into the esophagus — and if not, you need to […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market remains firm
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were steady to $3 lower on average; calves were relatively unchanged but limited numbers were on offer. Strength in the Canadian dollar appeared to temper demand from south of the border in the 750-plus-lb. weight categories. Last week was the first full week of sales in both […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder markets start 2022 with a roar
Compared to late December, western Canadian yearling prices were quoted $6-$8 higher on average; however, fancier, lower flesh packages in the 850- to 900-lb. category were $10-$12 higher. Calf markets were quite variable. Early in the week, calf prices were relatively unchanged but markets were up $3-$6 by Friday. Ontario buyers were extremely aggressive last […] Read more
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