Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $3-$5 lower. Excessive snow in Alberta and ongoing rains across Manitoba and Saskatchewan set a negative tone. The market appeared to incorporate a risk discount, although many auction barns had limited numbers on offer. Buyers once again focused on local cattle and avoided transportation over […] Read more
Klassen: Adverse weather tempers feeder market
Klassen: Yearling prices remain firm
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets were relatively unchanged with the exception of southern Alberta where 800-plus-lb. feeders traded $5 to as much as $8 higher. Strength in deferred live cattle futures and weakness in barley prices were the main factors driving demand in the Lethbridge area. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s bullish […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market experiences softer demand
Compared to the previous week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $4-$6 lower on average; calves were down $5 to as much as $10 in some cases. U.S. feeder cattle markets were also down $5-$8 from seven days earlier. The extended period of negative feeding margins appears to be taking a toll on the feeder market. […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle market recovers
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $4-$6 higher on average; some packages in Alberta sold $8 to as much as $10 above week-ago levels. Larger feedlot operations were very aggressive on 750- to 900-pounders. The quality of yearlings is excellent at this time of year. Comments from the front row suggest most […] Read more
Feed weekly outlook: Grain prices back off previous highs
MarketsFarm — Feed barley prices have come down from June highs, which saw prices around $300 per tonne. Currently, feed barley is around $275-$280 as market participants anticipate arrival of new crops. However, demand for feed grains remains high, as “we’re still dealing with a full feedlot,” said Brandon Motz of CorNine Commodities at Lacombe, […] Read more
Despite current dip, cattle feeders optimistic about what lies ahead
With lots of cattle on increasingly pricey feed, margins are taking a hit, but optimism remains strong
Reading Time: 4 minutes The feedlot industry is experiencing a little dip right now, but the sector continues to chug along nicely. That’s why Doug Price opted to buy Western Feedlots at High River, which has been shuttered since 2016. “It was a fairly good-sized feedlot and we’re just tearing most of it down except the bunks and re-doing […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle demand softens
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were $2-$4 lower on average while calves were down $3-$5 depending on the region. Weakness in the fed cattle market continues to spill over into the feeder complex, as margins drift further into red ink. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle in the range of $245-$246 delivered […] Read more
Stability of Steady Eddie cattle market is the envy of other sectors
Calf prices a bit higher, exports edging up, and despite a smaller herd, processing is doing well
Reading Time: 3 minutes There have been a few small hiccups but unlike much of the ag sector, the cattle market has been blissfully uneventful in recent months. “Calf prices are generally higher than a year ago. We’re seeing our calf and feeder prices 15 to 20 cents higher than a year ago, which is pretty positive,” said Brian […] Read more
Klassen: Rising feed grains weigh on feeder market
Compared to the previous week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded steady to $3 lower over the past week. In some cases, calves were down $4 to as much as $6. Rising feed grain costs weighed on the overall feeder complex. Feed barley in southern Alberta traded in the range of $265-$275 per tonne delivered, […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle fall again on lower beef, cash prices
Chicago | Reuters –– U.S. live cattle futures fell on Friday, with the actively traded Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) June contract down for a 10th straight session on sinking beef and cash cattle prices, and long liquidation by managed commodity funds. Cattle futures have been susceptible to steep drops as commodity funds had recently built […] Read more
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