Beef Cattle & Production Tips

CME March 2020 feeder cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

Klassen: Fed cattle market underpins feeder cattle prices

By Jerry Klassen, GFM Network News January 7, 2020

Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis at an average price of $275 delivered, which equates to $165 on a live basis. Fed cattle prices are now at 52-week highs and feeding margins are in the range of $50 to $70 per head. Strength in the cash fed cattle market was supportive […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Hogs, Livestock

Amended CUSMA pact includes anti-COOL clause

By GFM Network News January 4, 2020

The new Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), a free trade deal set to replace NAFTA, includes language meant to block any future bids at a trade-disrupting country-of-origin labeling (COOL) law. The new clause would, in theory, checkmate a move made last summer by some Democrat members of the U.S. House of Representatives to have a new North […] Read more

Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Feeder market remains firm

By Jerry Klassen, GFM Network News December 31, 2019

Feeder cattle markets experienced light volumes during the final week of December and prices were relatively unchanged compared to week-ago levels. Yearling values were slightly softer, as these cattle will not have enough time to be ready for the April fed market. Buying interest for mid-weight categories was characterized as sluggish, while light-weight bawlers were […] Read more

Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Improving margins support lightweight feeder cattle

By Jerry Klassen, GFM Network News December 24, 2019

Compared to last week, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $2 to $4 on either side of unchanged; however, calves under 650 pounds were steady to as much as $5 higher. Bids from Alberta packers were sharply higher with fed cattle trading in the range of $160 to $162 on Friday, up $5 to $6 […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Hogs, Livestock, Markets, Reuters

U.S. livestock: Hog futures slip ahead of USDA report

By GFM Network News December 23, 2019

Chicago | Reuters – U.S. hog futures eased back on Monday, ahead of a quarterly government report that is expected to show a healthy boost to the size of the U.S. hog herd, traders said. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s quarterly Hogs and Pigs report is expected to show the herd increased 2.9 percent in […] Read more

Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Feeder cattle market volatility continues

By Jerry Klassen, GFM Network News December 17, 2019

Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded steady to $5 higher on average. For the second week in a row, the markets were quite variable across the Prairies but shorter-keep yearlings appeared to lead the charge higher. In Alberta, quality 900-lb. steers were once again touching the $190 level and 800-lb.-plus steers […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Dairy Cattle, Livestock, Machinery

Cattle producers get longer phase-in on new transport regs

By GFM Network News December 12, 2019

New federal livestock transport regulations, due to come into force in February, will now roll out on a longer timeline for the beef and dairy cattle sectors. Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau has announced a “two-year transition period” for bovines, which is meant to provide “time to gather more data on effective solutions concerning the […] Read more

Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Feeder cattle market under weight of imports

By Jerry Klassen, GFM Network News December 10, 2019

Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $5 lower to $2 higher. It’s that time of year when most feedlots are carrying sufficient numbers and buyers are hesitant to increase ownership unless they can see profitability. Auction market volumes contained weaned and unweaned calves over the past week; premiums returned for feeders […] Read more

In southern Alberta, Simmental based steers weighing 510 pounds were quoted at $230 in mid-November while black heifers were valued at $195. It’s looking like feast-or-famine beef production in early 2020.

Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf, Markets

Calf prices will be sideways into 2020

Market Update with Jerry Klassen: Both the U.S. and Canada produced smaller calf crops in 2019

By Jerry Klassen December 5, 2019

Alberta packers were paying $142 to $144 on a live basis in mid-November, relatively unchanged from last month’s average price. While Alberta prices have traded in a sideways range, fed cattle values south of the border have been percolating higher. In Nebraska, fed cattle were trading in the range of $114 to $116, up from […] Read more

CME January 2020 feeder cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Feeder cattle edge higher on improving margins

By Jerry Klassen, GFM Network News December 3, 2019

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearlings were $2-$3 higher; calf prices were $2 to as much as $4 higher; calves under 600 lbs. were $4 to as much as $10 higher in some cases. February and April live cattle futures appear to be incorporating a risk premium due to the uncertainty in beef production […] Read more

GFM Network News

U.S. livestock: Feeder cattle hit contract highs on tight supply

U.S. grains: Soybeans tumble on doubts over U.S.-China trade progress

Alberta harvest wrapping up: report

Beef Cattle

Klassen: Fed cattle market underpins feeder cattle prices

Amended CUSMA pact includes anti-COOL clause

Klassen: Feeder market remains firm

Klassen: Improving margins support lightweight feeder cattle

U.S. livestock: Hog futures slip ahead of USDA report

Klassen: Feeder cattle market volatility continues

Cattle producers get longer phase-in on new transport regs

Klassen: Feeder cattle market under weight of imports

Calf prices will be sideways into 2020

Klassen: Feeder cattle edge higher on improving margins

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