Chicago | Reuters — The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Tuesday raised its forecast for beef production and cattle prices in 2021 and 2022 due to strong demand and heavier livestock. Robust sales of U.S. beef to domestic consumers and overseas buyers have helped support Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) cattle futures. USDA, in a monthly […] Read more
U.S. livestock: USDA lifts estimates for beef production, cattle prices
December live cattle up, lean hogs lower
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle at two-month high on strong beef demand
December hogs follow pork lower
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures reached a two-month high on Monday amid expectations for solid demand for beef, traders said. Gains in cash cattle prices last week helped support futures, traders said. Meat packers killed an estimated 121,000 cattle at U.S. slaughtering plants on Monday, unchanged from a week ago, […] Read more
Crunching the numbers on backgrounding cattle
Should you hold animals or sell some to free up feed for the cow herd?
Reading Time: 2 minutes Drought conditions across the country this year remind us of the importance of a drought-management plan. Diversifying a cow-calf operation with a backgrounding enterprise could be part of a drought-mitigation strategy, as backgrounded cattle can be sold or moved to a feedlot to free up feed supplies or pasture for the cow herd. While backgrounding […] Read more
Alberta feeder cattle imports continue to increase
Western Canada plants are currently operating near capacity to satisfy strong consumer demand
Reading Time: 2 minutes Cattle imports have been increasing annually since 2015 when only 32,172 head were imported to Canada and a mere 399 head were received in Alberta, says Jason Wood, provincial livestock market analyst with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. “Year to date (January to August), total Canadian live cattle imports are 277,290 head, already 1.9 per cent […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle market continues on downward trend
Compared to last week, Western Canadian yearling markets dropped $2 to $4 while calf prices sank $2 to as much as $6 on average. Rising feed grain prices set a negative tone. Adverse weather also contributed to lower bids, especially in the lighter weight categories. Most auction barns had feature calf sales this past week. […] Read more
Beef cattle producers ‘encouraged’ by new CPTPP applicants
U.K., China, Taiwan seek memberships; no additional dairy, feather access on table
With their exports on an upswing, the organization for Canada’s beef cattle producers says it’s “encouraged to see other countries’ interest” in joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade bloc. The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association on Oct. 18 noted the official applications to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) from the United Kingdom, China and […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle market grinds lower
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets were down $2-$5 while calves dropped by $3 to as much as $8. We’re now seeing some medium-quality calves weighing around 550 lbs. sell under the psychological $200 level in central Alberta. The market is lacking demand. Feedlot inventories are running 33 per cent above the five-year […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle falls as cash market idles
Lower cash, pork prices drag on lean hogs
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures fell, pressured by a stagnant cash market and processing backups, traders said. CME December live cattle futures settled down 1.225 cents at 128.325 cents/lb. January feeder cattle futures eased 2.675 cents to end at 157.325 cents/lb. For the week, live cattle futures lost 2.35 cents, […] Read more
Where’s the beef? It’s at Farmfair International
New management goes back to basics with the focus squarely on the cattle shows
Reading Time: 4 minutes As you enter the gates of Farmfair International in Edmonton next month, there are some things you won’t see: rabbits and urban chickens. Those were a couple of the events former Farmfair organizer Northlands had set up in 2019 (the last show before the pandemic) to attract urban audiences. This year, with the stakes higher […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME lean hogs fall on sluggish export sales
Weaker exports drag on cattle also
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures fell for a third session on Thursday, pressured by weak export activity, traders said. CME December lean hog futures settled down 2.825 cents at 73.2 cents/lb., its biggest drop since Sept. 10 (all figures US$). CME February hogs ended down 2.55 cents at 76.675 cents/lb. […] Read more