Finishers & Production Tips

CME April 2019 live cattle, with August 2019 live cattle in brown. (Barchart)

Klassen: Feeder market holds value

By Jerry Klassen, GFM Network News March 12, 2019

Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were relatively unchanged compared to seven days earlier. Buying interest for yearlings was somewhat stronger while calves in the eastern Prairie regions were softer. Moderate temperatures are in the seven-day forecast for most of Western Canada, so the risk discount due to adverse weather has evaporated. Barley jumped an additional […] Read more

Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Feeder market sends mixed signals

By Jerry Klassen, GFM Network News March 5, 2019

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets were steady to $4 lower while calves were steady to $2 higher. Barley prices have jumped $3-$6 per tonne over the past week, with winter conditions hindering off-farm logistics. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle in the range of $149-$150 last week; however, in Nebraska, fed cattle […] Read more

Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Winter conditions weigh on feeder market

By Jerry Klassen, GFM Network News February 26, 2019

Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were relatively unchanged from week-ago levels. The major feeding regions from Alberta to the U.S. Midwest and southern Plains have all experienced severe storms and extreme temperatures. The forecast for southern Alberta calls for lows of -25 to -32 C over the next seven days. Auction markets have a few […] Read more

Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Feeder cattle succumb to negative margins

By Jerry Klassen, GFM Network News February 12, 2019

Alberta fed cattle prices have dropped nearly $15 over the past three weeks. Feedlot margins are deep in red ink, with losses amounting to $200-250 per head. Compared to last week, yearlings and calves over 700 lbs. traded $3-$5 lower; calves under 700 lbs. were down $5-$8 with some feeder markets in Alberta dropping as […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner, Finishers, Markets

Most indicators point to favourable market

Market Update: Numbers for the first quarter show good demand, strong prices

By Jerry Klassen February 6, 2019

Alberta packers were buying fed cattle at $268 on dressed basis in mid-January, which is up $10 from last month. Fed cattle values on a live basis were quoted at $163 in Alberta and US$124 in the U.S. Southern Plains. The market appears to be percolating higher due to tighter than expected market ready supplies. […] Read more

Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Fed cattle weakness pressures yearlings

By Jerry Klassen, GFM Network News February 5, 2019

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearlings and calves over 700 lbs. traded steady to $3 lower on average. Weakness in the fed cattle market weighed on the heavier replacements. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle at $155 on a live basis, down $7 from the highs seven days earlier. Barley prices were up $3-$5 […] Read more

Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Feeder market easily absorbs adverse weather

By Jerry Klassen, GFM Network News January 29, 2019

Western Canadian feeder markets were relatively unchanged from week-ago levels but there were a couple of unique characteristics in certain regions. Quality yearling packages were $2-$4 higher in Alberta but fleshier replacements were discounted. Eastern Prairie regions had grass cattle under 600 lbs. trading $3 to as much as $8 above week-ago levels. Order buyers […] Read more

Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Fed cattle market lifts feeder prices

By Jerry Klassen, GFM Network News January 14, 2019

Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $4 on either side of unchanged. Early in the week, the market was rather sluggish but a fortuitous bounce in the live cattle futures quickly spilled over into the feeder complex. Yearlings and heavier calves ended the week $2 to $4 higher. Feeding margins are […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner, Finishers, Markets

Beef demand in 2018 pushes more production

Market Update: Fed-cattle prices need to rally  for feeders to be profitable

By Jerry Klassen January 8, 2019

During the second week of December, Alberta packers were buying fed cattle in the range of $150 to $152, up from $2 to $4 from a month earlier. Market-ready supplies in Alberta and Saskatchewan are running above year-ago levels which has limited the upside in the fed cattle market. South of the border, U.S. fed-cattle […] Read more

Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Feeder market starts year with cautious tone

By Jerry Klassen, GFM Network News January 8, 2019

Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were relatively unchanged to slightly softer compared to mid-December. The market was lightly tested, with direct off farm to feedlot trade, but auction market activity was rather quiet. Winter conditions in southern Alberta caused buyers to be on the defensive, with lighter calves reflecting small discounts; however, vaccinated feeders on […] Read more

GFM Network News

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Russia’s top agriculture official blames low global grain prices for export slowdown

U.S. livestock: Cattle rebound on technical buying

Finishers

Klassen: Feeder market holds value

Klassen: Feeder market sends mixed signals

Klassen: Winter conditions weigh on feeder market

Klassen: Feeder cattle succumb to negative margins

Most indicators point to favourable market

Klassen: Fed cattle weakness pressures yearlings

Klassen: Feeder market easily absorbs adverse weather

Klassen: Fed cattle market lifts feeder prices

Beef demand in 2018 pushes more production

Klassen: Feeder market starts year with cautious tone

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