Feeder cattle prices came under pressure this past week on fears that the European debt crisis will slow the economic recovery in North America. Markets don’t like uncertainty and we have seen how fast consumer spending can contract, influencing overall beef consumption. Equity markets have lost over 10 per cent of their value since the […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market breaks long-term upward trend
Klassen: Feeder cattle trend remains intact
Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were steady to $1 higher last week while U.S. prices were $1 to $3 higher. The weaker Canadian dollar enhanced demand from south of the border and domestic buying interest also resurfaced. Buyers searching for grass cattle were out in full force, competing with aggressive feedlot interests. CanFax reported April […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle comfortable near historical highs
Feeder cattle in Western Canada held value last week despite the Canadian dollar dipping to 12-week lows. Demand for grass cattle has subsided as many farmers are preparing to start seeding. Secondly, there is a fair amount of uncertainty in the world and feedlot operators chose to sit on their hands last week. The media […] Read more
Klassen: Upward trend continues on feeder cattle
The upward trend continues in feeder cattle as prices were once again $3 to $5 per hundredweight (cwt) higher last week. Rain across Western Canada has renewed buying interest for grass cattle. Farmers with any significant amount of pasture are now shopping for feeder cattle. The optimistic outlook for fed cattle has also brought the […] Read more
Consumers Want To Know Food Sources
I’ve had many calls from cow-calf producers over the past year in regards to age verification and premises identification. Many producers don’t understand why this is important, and question the additional cost versus the potential benefit. Of course these producers are thinking of a price benefit rather than industry benefit. Provincial and state governments along […] Read more
Fed & Feeder Markets Inching Up
US fed prices soared higher in early April with Nebraska cattle trading at $100/cwt to $102/cwt on a live basis and $163/cwt on a dressed basis. This is approximately $4/cwt from historical highs. Choice wholesale prices reached to $165, the highest level since July of 2008. At the same time, fed steers in Alberta were […] Read more
Klassen: Man., Sask. feeder prices jump
April 26 — Feeder cattle prices in Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan jumped by $4-$7 per hundredweight (cwt) last week. Buying interest for grass cattle skyrocketed after the snowfall in southern Alberta along with the rains in central Saskatchewan. U.S. grass cattle supplies are also tightening, improving the export program. April feeder cattle exports are on […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder prices slowly climb, exports improve
April 20 — Alberta feeder prices have climbed $10-$12 per hundredweight (cwt) since the first week of February. The market has done a good job of absorbing the larger supplies due to the slower export pace. Feedlot placements in Alberta and Saskatchewan during March were up 16 per cent over year-ago levels. This increase follows […] Read more
Klassen: U.S. feeder prices surge, Canadian prices ratchet higher
April 13 — U.S. feeder cattle are within reach of historical highs; strong feedlot competition along with tighter available supplies have resulted in prices surging $10 per hundredweight (cwt) in April. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported the highest prices for six-weight steers in Nebraska brought back $138/cwt. Feedlots are being more aggressive with replacement […] Read more
Klassen: Feeders steady/higher on weaker feedgrains
April 6 — Feeder cattle prices in Western Canada were steady to $2 per hundredweight (cwt) higher last week while U.S. prices were $2 to $4 higher. The feeder market had a firmer tone after the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s prospective plantings and stocks report. U.S. farmers intend to seed 88.798 million acres of corn […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
