Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures gained strength on Tuesday on technical trading, analysts said, while lean hog futures rose for a second day as traders anticipated growing export demand.
Cow-calf
U.S. livestock: Live cattle recovers on technical trading
Return of US drought delays cattle-herd rebuilding, hurting Tyson Foods
The return of drought in U.S. cattle-producing areas is delaying ranchers' plans to expand production after the nation's herd shrank to its smallest level in seven decades, farmers and analysts said.
Klassen: Strong demand continues to sustain feeder market
The weaker Canadian dollar has enhanced the feeding margin structure on incoming replacement calves and this translated into stronger values on premium genetic packages. Finishing feedlot operators in Alberta and Ontario were fairly aggressive in Manitoba and Saskatchewan markets.
Finding ideal scrotal size important in sire purchasing
Animal Health: Be careful not to buy a bull with too large of a scrotal size
If there’s something the market desires, there’s no doubt that purebred beef breeders can make it happen. A few years ago we did notice breed averages for scrotal size coming up a bit, so the minimum accepted scrotal sizes were adjusted up just a bit (one centimetre) in some cases. I think that is about […] Read more
Cyle and Erika Stewart
Outstanding Young Farmers 2024: Efficiency, sustainability and resilience are priorities when ranching during a long dry spell
Cyle and Erika Stewart say developing an efficient beef herd and managing pastures to optimize use of available forage during consecutive years of drought conditions has been the priority for their family-run ranching operation in southern Saskatchewan. The Stewarts, who own and operate Pine Ranch along with Erika’s parents Bill and Terry Strande, say they’ve […] Read more
Lorin, Barry and Daniel Doerksen
Outstanding Young Farmers 2024: The cattle’s performance on grass and forages becomes part of the beef’s story at retail
What started out as a plan to supply a niche market in the beef industry has over the past six years turned into the focus for a fourth-generation southeastern Alberta ranching operation. For the Doerksen brothers of Gemstone Cattle Company at Gem, Alta., about an hour north of Brooks, putting some of the efficient beef […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Cattle edge higher as Wall Street extends gains
Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle futures firmed slightly on Thursday as stocks hit record highs on Wall Street for a second day, providing borrowed strength to the livestock markets, analysts said.
U.S. livestock: Lean hogs hit one-week low, pork belly values fall
Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures fell to their lowest level in more than a week on Tuesday as profit-taking extended the market's setback from contract highs last week, analysts said.
Pencil out the investment in a background feeding program
Better Bunks and Pastures: Knowing the numbers can help dictate whether calves should be sold or retained
As most of the leaves have fallen, many spring calves are being weaned. It’s also the time when many people determine whether their weaned calves are immediately sold or held back for further feeding. Record-high prices, especially on the weaned calf side of the market, should have everyone penciling out the feasibility of continued backgrounding […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market holds at higher levels
For the week ending November 2, Western Canadian yearling and calf markets were relatively unchanged from seven days earlier. Strong demand continues to support the feeder complex at historical high prices.
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