Beef Cattle & Production Tips

Taste-testing during a Canadian Beef Advantage Seminar in Shanghai in 2013. (Canada Beef via YouTube)

Klassen: Uncertain beef demand weighs on feeder market

By Jerry Klassen, GFM Network News 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

Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Markets

Stronger fed cattle market supports feeders

Market Update with Jerry Klassen: Market-ready supplies to go from one extreme to the other

By Jerry Klassen February 6, 2020

As January unfolded, Alberta packers were buying fed cattle in the range of $275 to $280 on a dressed basis and $165 to $168 on a live basis. Prices are trading near 52-week highs and up approximately $10 on a live basis from mid-December. Feedlot margins are hovering between $40 to $60 per head. Market-ready […] Read more

Brightly coloured dog collars are useful to Rob Somerville in locating calves that needed treatment or extra attention.

Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Good producer ideas improve cattle management

You never know how sporting goods store supplies can benefit beef production

By Beef Cattle Research Council February 4, 2020

How can colourful dog collars and game cameras help to improve beef production and management? The Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC), is always interested in hearing from producers about how often simple ideas not only reduce the workload but ultimately produce more pounds of beef. From a BCRC blog posting last fall, here a few […] Read more

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

Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Feeder market remains under pressure

By Jerry Klassen, GFM Network News 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 Cattle, Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Feeder market lacks buying interest

By Jerry Klassen, GFM Network News January 29, 2020

Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $2-$5 lower on average. Values in Alberta were relatively unchanged but markets in the eastern Prairie regions appeared to trade $4 to as much as $6 below week-ago levels. Alberta yearlings were relatively unchanged, but noticeable slippage was noted in the non-major feeding regions. Feedlots […] Read more

A transmission electron microscopy image of the first isolated case of the new 2019 coronavirus, as obtained by Reuters on Jan. 27, 2020. (Handout image courtesy IVDC, China CDC via Reuters)

Beef Cattle, Livestock, Markets

Virus concerns add more uncertainty to cattle market

By GFM Network News January 27, 2020

MarketsFarm — Cattle futures in Chicago dropped hard over the past few days, as mounting concerns over the new coronavirus in China triggered a broad-based selloff in global equities and commodities. While the virus adds an extra layer of uncertainty to the North American cattle market, expectations for solid beef demand should remain supportive for […] Read more

It is important cows and calves be monitored closely or given the space to ensure they get mothered up correctly and the calf get’s sucking.

Cattleman’s Corner, Cow-Calf

Pairing up is critical at calving — Part 1

Animal Health with Roy Lewis: Looking after the details will pay dividends later

By Roy Lewis January 22, 2020

Calving time (winter and spring) will soon be upon us, bringing the excitement of seeing what the next calf crop will be like. Several good practice tips emerge from my experience working with many great cow-calf managers over the years I hope some of these ideas will lead you to save more, and more productive, […] Read more

File photo of cattle seeking shade in Namibia. (Brytta/iStock/Getty Images)

Beef Cattle, Livestock, Reuters

Namibia looks to import cattle as drought decimates herds

By Reuters, GFM Network News January 21, 2020

Windhoek | Reuters — Namibian state-owned meat processing and marketing firm Meatco is in talks with neighbour Botswana to import cattle, as severe drought decimates local herds and threatens beef export deals with China and European countries. The southern African desert nation moved closer to famine last month after dam levels fell below 20 per […] Read more

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

Beef Cattle, Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Large feedlot inventories lower feeder demand

By Jerry Klassen, GFM Network News January 21, 2020

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $2-$3 on either side of unchanged and mid-weight feeders (600-850 lbs.) were steady to $2 lower, but calves under 600 lbs. were unchanged to as much as $10 lower. Prices were quite variable across the Prairies, which made the market hard to define. The market appeared […] Read more

Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Feeder market starts 2020 on steady tone

By Jerry Klassen, GFM Network News January 14, 2020

Compared to last week, short-keep replacement cattle and feeders in the mid-weight categories were steady to $3 lower on average; feeder cattle under 600 lbs. traded $2 lower to as much as $5 higher. Featherlight calves remain strong trading at similar levels to late December. Most auction markets resumed their regular sales schedules last week. […] Read more

Daily Network News

New strategies needed for Canadian agriculture to stand out in global trade

Feed Grains Weekly: Cash prices for wheat, barley largely flat

The Canadian GMO mustard wars: Dijon vs canola

Beef Cattle