Compared to last week, Western Canadian yearling prices were quite variable trading $5 higher to as much as $6 lower. Calf prices have been consolidating over the past couple weeks and once again traded $3 to $4 on either side of unchanged. Strong demand was evident for 800-pound-plus yearlings fresh off grass. Feedlots in the […] Read more
Klassen: Higher input costs limit upside for feeder cattle market
Klassen: Strong demand underpins yearling market
Western Canada will be seeking U.S. corn
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were unchanged to as much as $4 higher in some cases; calf markets traded $2-$3 on either side of unchanged as prices were quite variable across the Prairies. Major feedlot operators were extremely aggressive for yearlings. Larger groups of one-cut cattle were very well bid. April live […] Read more
Klassen: Yearlings hold value while calves remain under pressure
Compared to last week, Western Canadian yearling prices were relatively unchanged while calves were once again $2 to $4 lower. Featherlight bawlers were down $4 to as much as $8 from week-ago levels. The tight feed grain supply situation continues to set the price structure for feeder cattle. Yearlings straight off grass held a slight […] Read more
Klassen: Drought conditions spur on fall cattle run
Compared to last week, Western Canadian feeder yearling prices were relatively unchanged; calves traded $2 to $5 lower. The fall run has started. Drought like conditions have caused many ranchers to sell cattle 30 to 45 days earlier than normal. Steers averaging 900 pounds were readily trading in the range from $185 to $190; steers […] Read more
Klassen: Feed barley rally pressures feeder cattle market
Compared to last week, Western Canadian yearling steers traded $4 to $8 lower while heifers were down $2 to $4. Calves traded $5 to as much as $10 below week-ago levels. Feed barley in the Lethbridge area traded in the range of $390/tonne to as high as $415/tonne, up $25-$30/tonne from seven days earlier. Crop […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market stays firm
Compared to last week, western Canadian prices for yearlings weighing 800 lbs. and over were unchanged; however, calves and yearlings in the 600- to 800-lb. category traded steady to $3 higher. The calf market was hard to define due to small groups of various quality. Strength in deferred live cattle futures along with the weaker […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market consolidates
Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $2-$3 on either side of unchanged. In central and southern Alberta, quality yearling steers weighing 800 lbs. continue to hover at the psychological range of $200-$210; lower-flesh steers fresh off grass weighing 900 lbs. are readily quoted in the range of $185-$190. Saskatchewan values are […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market calm but firm
Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle prices were unchanged. Most auction markets were closed due to Canada Day. It’s been a busy spring period; there is no doubt about it. Pastures are quickly deteriorating under the intense heat and many ranchers will sell yearlings 30-45 days sooner than normal. The good news is […] Read more
Beef 911: Our thinking about vaccinations is evolving for the better
Reading Time: 4 minutes We want to get the best bang for our vaccine buck, and research is looking for ways to do that This article will focus on some recent work on vaccination by Dr. Nathan Erickson and others at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine. They basically had different calf groups vaccinated with different respiratory virus products […] Read more
Klassen: Yearling prices consolidate, calf values soften
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were relatively unchanged; however, calves weighing 500 to 700 lbs. were $2-$4 lower. Featherlight bawlers under 500 lbs. were down $6-$8 from seven days earlier. Strong feedlot buying interest supported quality groups of yearlings. Feed barley prices were down $5-$10 per tonne from last week while the […] Read more
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