Last week saw many auction barns holding their largest volumes of the year and there was no shortage of buying interest at these feature sales. Major feedlot operators were aggressively shopping because quality and risk sentiment appear to be more favourable this time of year. Calves have withstood adverse winter conditions for a couple of […] Read more
Klassen: Strong demand at feature calf sales
Klassen: Feeder cattle prices at lofty levels
Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were steady to $3 higher on average this past week; quality calves were as much as $5 higher in certain cases. Strength in the fed cattle market enhanced feedlot margins for nearby positions which set a positive tone. South of the border, feeder prices were $3 to $5 higher in […] Read more
Klassen: Healthy feeding margins support feeder cattle market
Western Canadian feeder cattle price volatility continues while average prices remain near historical highs. Fancier minimal-flesh quality calf prices experienced spurts of $5 to $8 above average levels as exotic steers averaging 780 pounds reached up to $246 in central Alberta. Similarly, a small group of quality 750-lb. steers touched $252 at a feature sale […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle markets remain firm at feature sales
Western Canadian feeder cattle markets experienced extreme volatility over the past week. Strong buying interest was noted on pre-conditioned calves while unweaned bawlers traded $2-$5 per hundredweight (cwt) lower. Alberta packers showed limited interest for fed cattle due to uncertainty in wholesale beef values. However, by the weekend, fed cattle in the U.S. southern Plains […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle experience volatile price action
Western Canada’s feeder cattle prices traded in an volatile fashion this past week due to uncertain economics and beef demand uncertainty. Early in the week, auction barns were reporting values steady with week-ago levels; however, buying enthusiasm started to wane by Wednesday and prices were $3-$5 per hundredweight (cwt) lower by the weekend. Feedlot operators […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle jump $4-$8
Western Canada’s calf prices once again jumped $4-$8 per hundredweight (cwt) while yearling prices advanced a solid $2-$4. Strength in the fed cattle market, along with stronger wholesale beef values, rejuvenated buying enthusiasm for all weight categories. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle $2-$3/cwt above week-ago levels with fed steers trading in the range of […] Read more
Cattle prices are strong, but margins remain very tight
Straight from the hip: Reducing feed costs, minimizing shrink, and smart marketing are key ingredients to profitability
Reading Time: 3 minutes There is a lot of frothing at the mouth with cattle prices the way they are. Even the banker’s handshake is warming up with these returns. But a lot of young folks are asking the hard question as they enter into agriculture and farming: Will cows pay? I am a little hard on the bottom […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
