Cow-Calf & Production Tips

Beef Cattle, Cow-Calf, Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen — feeder cattle market reflects mixed tone

By Jerry Klassen, GFM Network News November 3, 2014

Western Canadian feeder cattle prices reflected a mixed tone over the past week with values $3 to $5 higher on vaccinated preconditioned calves; unvaccinated calves just off their mothers were $3/cwt to as much as $10/cwt lower in some cases. Yearling prices were also quite variable by as much as $10/cwt despite the tightening supply […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf

Proactive calf weaning programs save money

By Peter Vitti October 23, 2014

Many calves are “truck weaned” as a low-cost and low-management weaning option, but it is a wasteful practice. It often costs the seller and/or the buyer a lot of money. Fortunately, better weaning alternatives are available compared to such abrupt removal of calves from their mothers, and transporting them bawling to another yard. These better […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Cow-Calf, Finishers, Hogs, Livestock, Markets, Reuters

High-priced calves drop U.S. July cattle placements by 7 pct

By GFM Network News August 22, 2014

Reuters — The number of cattle placed in U.S. feedlots in July dropped 7.0 per cent from a year ago as pricey calves deterred some feedlots from purchasing them for fattening, a government report showed on Friday. The U.S. Department of Agriculture report showed July placements at 1.560 million head, down 7.0 per cent from […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Cow-Calf, Finishers, Livestock, Markets, Reuters

LIVESTOCK: CME live cattle futures climb before USDA report

By GFM Network News August 22, 2014

Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures closed higher on Friday, supported by positioning before the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s monthly Cattle-On-Feed report at 2 p.m. CDT (1900) GMT. Analysts expect the report to show fewer cattle entered feedlots in July as expensive calves discouraged some feedyards from buying them. On Friday, USDA will […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Cow-Calf, Finishers, Hogs, Livestock, Reuters

LIVESTOCK: CME live cattle fall, pressured by equities tumble

By GFM Network News July 31, 2014

Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle contracts closed sharply lower on Thursday, pulled down by the stock market’s sheer drop caused by European deflation and Argentina default worries. Wall Street investors dumped long positions across a broad range of commodities, including CME livestock futures, an analyst said. Global economic jitters could undermine consumer confidence, which could […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Cow-Calf, Finishers, Livestock, Reuters

Cargill, citing shrinking cattle herd, to shut Wisconsin beef plant

By GFM Network News July 31, 2014

Reuters — Cargill Inc, one of the nation’s largest beef processors, said on Wednesday it plans to close its Milwaukee, Wisconsin, beef-processing plant on Friday, because the size of the U.S. herd has fallen to its smallest in 63 years. The ground beef production side of the plant, which employs about 200 people, will remain […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Cow-Calf, Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Feeder market surges like a rocket — steers hit $330

By GFM Network News July 27, 2014

Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were extreme volatile and relatively undefined as the market made fresh historical highs. U.S. weekly beef production continues to come in below expectations and the market appears to be in a “supply shock.” At the same time, market-ready supplies of slaughter cattle are rather tight moving into August causing packers […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Cow-Calf, Finishers, Livestock

Livestock: Healthy pastures drop U.S. June cattle placements by 6 pct

By GFM Network News July 25, 2014

Reuters — The number of cattle placed in U.S. feedlots in June fell 6 per cent from a year ago as plentiful grazing land allowed animals to be fattened outside of feedyards longer, a government report showed on Friday. Feedyards are drawing from a shallow pool of market-ready animals after years of drought in parts […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Cow-Calf, Hogs, Livestock, Reuters

LIVESTOCK: CME hog futures slide on weaker cash, pork prices

By GFM Network News July 24, 2014

Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange hog futures on Thursday finished lower, pulled down by softer cash hog and wholesale pork prices, traders said. August finished 1.375 cents per lb lower at 123.200 cents, and October at 107.900, 2.550 cents lower. The average price of market-ready, or cash, hogs Thursday morning in the eastern Midwest, fell […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Cow-Calf, Finishers, Hogs, Livestock, Poultry/Eggs, Reuters

U.S. court upholds FDA animal feed policy despite health concern

By GFM Network News July 24, 2014

Reuters — A divided federal appeals court on Thursday upheld a U.S. Food and Drug Administration policy allowing the use of various antibiotics in animal feed, even if such use might endanger the public health. Reversing a lower court ruling, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York said the FDA was empowered […] Read more

GFM Network News

Large gap in canola ending stocks between AAFC, USDA

U.S. livestock: Cattle, hogs rally

U.S. grains: Corn, soybeans hit lowest prices since October on big supplies

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