Finishers Production Tips

Klassen: Feeder market experiences fortuitous bounce

By GFM Network News, Jerry Klassen March 31, 2020

Last week, the feeder market started on a very sluggish tone. Buyers were sitting back waiting for the market to establish direction. By Friday, yearling prices were up $2-$4 compared to seven days earlier, while calves were trading $4 to as much as $8 above week-ago levels. Cow-calf producers and backgrounding operators have been holding […] Read more

Finishers, Livestock, Markets

COVID-19 strains already-battered Ontario beef industry

Limited processing capacity remains financial challenge for province's feedlot sector, despite recent increase in retail demand

By GFM Network News March 31, 2020

Ontario’s beef industry was already in the midst of an economic crisis, but COVID-19 is worsening the financial toll on the province’s cattle feeders. Due to extremely limited processing plant capacity, an uncompetitive market and disruptions to trade and market access, Ontario’s beef industry was losing an average of more than $2 million per week […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Feeder market remains vulnerable

By GFM Network News, Jerry Klassen March 24, 2020

Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle prices were quite variable. Compared to seven days earlier, Alberta feeder prices were unchanged to $5 lower; however, the markets in northern Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba were down $5 to as much as $10 in some cases. Weakness in the yearling markets spilled over into the lighter […] Read more

Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Feeder market digesting lower beef demand

By GFM Network News, Jerry Klassen March 17, 2020

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were down $12-$18; mid-weight calves were down $10 to as much as $15 while calves under 550 lbs. were down $4-$8. The market is incorporating a risk discount due to uncertainty in beef demand for the second and third quarters of 2020. Feedlot margins are in negative […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Extreme variability characterizes feeder market

By GFM Network News, Jerry Klassen March 10, 2020

Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were extremely variable over the past week which made the market hard to define. Compared to last week, yearling prices were quoted $2 to as much $6 lower while calves traded $2 lower as much as $5 higher. While some auction crowds were caught up with the negative news coverage, […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Coronavirus fears weigh on feeder markets

By GFM Network News, Jerry Klassen March 3, 2020

Western Canadian feeder prices were not immune to the meltdown of financial and commodity markets last week. Buyers appeared to incorporate a risk discount due to uncertainty in beef demand over the next few months. Compared to last week, larger groups of quality yearlings traded $3-$5 lower while smaller packages were down $4 to as […] Read more

Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Calves remain firm while yearlings falter

By GFM Network News, Jerry Klassen February 25, 2020

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $3-$5 lower while calves and grassers traded within $5 on either side of unchanged. Calves were extremely variable with similar weight cattle sometimes trading $6-$8 apart at the same sale. Supplies of calves coming on the market appear to be lower than last year. This may […] Read more

Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Calf prices divorce from yearling markets

By GFM Network News, Jerry Klassen February 18, 2020

Compared to last week, yearling prices were steady to as much as $4 lower depending on the region in Western Canada. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle at an average price of $252 on a dressed basis, down $6-$8 from last week and down about $20 from the last week of January. Weakness in fed […] Read more

Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Uncertain beef demand weighs on feeder market

By GFM Network News, Jerry Klassen February 11, 2020

Compared to last week, western Canadian prices for yearling and heavier calves were down $2-$4 on average. The calf market was hard to define; Alberta markets traded $3 lower to $4 higher but notable strength was evident in Saskatchewan and Manitoba where values were steady to $4 higher. Favourable weather contributed to higher auction market […] Read more

Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Feeder market remains under pressure

By GFM Network News, Jerry Klassen February 4, 2020

Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle prices were steady to $3 lower in Alberta while prices eroded by $2-$5 in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Noticeable weakness was evident in yearling prices, while grass cattle experienced limited slippage. Backgrounding operators are starting to liquidate fall-placed calves. Quality was quite variable, with fleshier cattle experiencing sharper […] Read more

Beef demand soars as consumers ‘aggressively’ stock up

Canadian farmland trending less affordable in FCC report

COVID-19 and the farm: Stories from the GFM network

GFM Network News

Beef demand soars as consumers ‘aggressively’ stock up

Canadian farmland trending less affordable in FCC report

COVID-19 and the farm: Stories from the GFM network

Finishers

Klassen: Feeder market experiences fortuitous bounce

COVID-19 strains already-battered Ontario beef industry

Klassen: Feeder market remains vulnerable

Klassen: Feeder market digesting lower beef demand

Klassen: Extreme variability characterizes feeder market

Klassen: Coronavirus fears weigh on feeder markets

Klassen: Calves remain firm while yearlings falter

Klassen: Calf prices divorce from yearling markets

Klassen: Uncertain beef demand weighs on feeder market

Klassen: Feeder market remains under pressure

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