(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Lower beef production forecasts support feeder complex

Major feedlots seen aggressive on quality calves

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $2-$4 on either side of unchanged. Calf markets were steady to $5 higher on average, with stronger buying interest on preconditioned weaned steer calves. Light calves weighing under 500 lbs. appeared to jump $10-$20 in certain regions. This past week, focus of finishing feedlots switched from […] Read more

CME October 2023 feeder cattle with 20- and 50-day moving averages and most-active November 2023 feeder cattle (black line). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME feeder cattle dip to three-week low

Live cattle also drop, hogs mixed ahead of USDA report

Chicago | Reuters — Chart-based and fund selling dragged Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures to their lowest level in more than a week on Tuesday while feeder cattle hit a three-week low, traders said. Most-active lean hog futures also came under pressure. Steep losses on Wall Street set a negative tone for cattle futures, […] Read more


CME December 2023 live cattle with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle slip, but stay near recent highs

December hogs up off three-week low

Chicago | Reuters — Live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange eased on Monday as the market pulled back slightly from life-of-contract highs set last week. The markets remain near their peaks as tight U.S. cattle supplies continue to fuel supply concerns. CME October live cattle futures settled 0.1 cent down at 186.975 cents/lb., […] Read more

CME December 2023 live cattle with 20- and 50-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME cattle up on bargain-buying, tight supplies

Hogs down in profit-taking

Chicago | Reuters — Live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange closed higher on Friday on tight U.S. cattle supplies and bargain-buying a day after the benchmark December contract hit a one-week low, traders said. CME October live cattle futures settled up 2.1 cents at 187.075 cents/lb. and most-active December ended up 1.85 cents […] Read more


CME December 2023 lean hogs with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: December hogs limit-down on pork prices, macroeconomic fears

Cattle futures follow hogs, equities lower

Chicago | Reuters — Lean hog futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange tumbled on Thursday as a drop in wholesale pork prices coupled with worries about the global economy sparked a round of profit-taking, analysts said. Livestock futures, grains and Wall Street equity markets all declined on Thursday as the U.S. dollar set a six-month […] Read more

Barley. (Doug Wilson photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Feed weekly outlook: Harvest pressure, looming corn imports weigh on barley bids

Some yields turn out 'better than expected'

MarketsFarm — Seasonal harvest pressure and expectations for large corn deliveries from the United States should limit any upside potential in feed barley bids in Western Canada for the foreseeable future despite this year’s smaller crop. “We’re getting some better-than-expected yields (in central Alberta), so there is some harvest pressure with guys needing to move […] Read more


CME December 2023 live cattle with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME cattle end firm, consolidate below recent highs

Hogs up on discount to cash price index

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures closed higher on Wednesday as the market consolidated just below life-of-contract highs touched a day earlier. Tightening U.S. cattle supplies remain a supportive backdrop to the market, but fresh bullish news was lacking, traders said. Wholesale beef prices fell, extending a seasonal slide dating from […] Read more

The largest factor influencing beef demand is consumer spending.

Consumer spending calls the shots on cattle prices

Market Update: History shows U.S. cow-calf producers need one year of historical high prices to trigger large-scale herd expansion

U.S. and Canadian cattle prices have been trading near historical highs over the past couple of months. Feedlot margins have been hovering in positive territory throughout the summer. Demand for yearlings and calves has been unprecedented as finishing operators reload for another round of feeding. After consecutive years of financial struggles and drought, cattle producers […] Read more


CME October 2023 lean hogs with 10-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Chicago hogs turn upward

Cattle futures down on day

Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) lean hog futures turned solidly upward Tuesday, a day after most trading months except October booked declines. October lean hogs closed Tuesday at 84.85 cents/lb., up 1.6 cents from Monday, while December closed at 76.25 cents, up 1.825 cents on the day (all figures US$). October hogs had dipped below 82 […] Read more

CME April 2024 live cattle with 20- and 50-day moving averages. (Barchart)

Klassen: Stronger live cattle futures enhance feeder demand

Feeder cattle supplies look to be lower than anticipated

Compared to last week, western Canadian grass yearling prices were unchanged to $3/cwt lower on average. Steers held value but heifers had a softer tone. Calf prices were relatively unchanged from seven days earlier. However, weaker barley prices and stronger deferred live cattle prices limited any slippage. The calf market continues to be in price […] Read more