Despair is the price one pays for setting an impossible aim. Given the phone calls over the past week, producers have been expecting something the market cannot offer. Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were under severe pressure, with 700-plus-pound cattle down $8-$12 from seven days earlier; calves under 700 lbs. traded $4-$8 below week-ago levels. […] Read more
Klassen: Feedlots curb buying interest
No bright lights ahead in beef market
Market Update with Jerry Klassen
The fed and feeder cattle market have many fundamental factors to digest over the next few months. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle near $169 in late October, which is down from the late spring highs of $204. Breakeven values on pen closeouts are in the range of $195 to $198 so in the best-case […] Read more
Klassen: Quality calves support feeder market
They say a sudden windfall can provide a false expectation of future performance. This is definitely true of the cattle feeding business. Western Canadian feeder cattle prices continued on a mixed volatile tone over the past week, trading $10 lower to as much as $10 higher. Feedlot operators shrugged off the sharply lower live cattle […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market stronger but volatile
The Western Canadian feeder cattle market appeared to gain momentum this week. Feeder cattle prices were extremely volatile compared to last week trading $5 lower to as much as $10 higher in the Eastern Regions. When April live cattle futures were higher, the bids flowed more aggressively but on days when the futures struggled, buyers […] Read more
Klassen: Live cattle futures lead feeder market higher
Western Canadian feeder cattle prices continued to climb last week for the second week in a row, as feedlot buying interest absorbed larger available supplies. Calves over 600 lbs. and yearlings were $3-$6 above week-ago levels on average while calves under 600 lbs. traded $5-$10 higher. Weakness in the Canadian dollar enhanced demand from south […] Read more
Feedlots looking at negative margins this fall
Market update with Jerry Klassen
Fed and feeder cattle prices have come under pressure over the past couple weeks as the market anticipates growing beef, pork and poultry supplies. The cattle complex is in a transition stage from contraction to expansion while pork and poultry have experienced production increases throughout 2015. The demand picture has also turned softer. Canada is […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle prices stabilize
Western Canadian feeder cattle prices stabilized over the past week, trading $5 to $8 higher in comparison to seven days earlier. In Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan, calves traded up $10 to $15 higher largely due to a resumption in U.S. buying interest. The market was functioning to encourage demand, and with prices $25 to $30 […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle prices remain vulnerable
Feedlot operators continued on a cautious path this week as western Canadian feeder cattle traded $6-$10 lower compared to seven days earlier. Heavier replacements over 800 lbs. once again led the charge lower, dipping as much as $12 below week-ago levels. Manitoba and Saskatchewan markets also came in line at a slight discount to the […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle prices collapse
Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were traded $15 to $25 below week-ago levels, suffering one of the largest declines in history. Heavier replacement cattle led the market lower, trading down $20 from week-ago levels, while feeders under 600 pounds dropped $10 to $12 on average. Feedlot operators pulled in the reins, as fed cattle dropped […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle market remains under pressure
Western Canadian feeder cattle prices traded $3 to $7 lower in comparison to week-ago levels as the market continues to digest the weaker fed market and softer wholesale beef values. Feedlot operators were more cautious, realizing the current prices don’t pencil profitably, while the deferred live cattle futures dropped like a power window. Financial risk […] Read more
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