CME January 2023 feeder cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures firm despite softer cash cattle

Hog futures down as exports disappoint

Chicago | Reuters — Feeder cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange climbed on Thursday, supported by sluggish corn futures, while live cattle gains were muted as meatpackers offered lower cash cattle prices this week, traders said. “They’ve backed off a bit in the cash market,” said Doug Houghton, technical analyst at Brock Capital Management. […] Read more

(TrouwNutrition.ca)

International joint venture buys Prairie layer hatchery

ILD, Trouw Nutrition to co-own Clark's Poultry

A Manitoba company providing day-old layer chicks to poultry producers in the three Prairie provinces is under new joint ownership. International Layer Distribution (ILD), a subsidiary of German egg layer breeding firm EW Group, and Trouw Nutrition Canada, a livestock feed arm of Nutreco, on Monday announced their joint venture has acquired Clark’s Poultry for […] Read more


CME February 2023 live cattle with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle ease on seasonal retail softness

February hogs lower despite export optimism

Chicago | Reuters — Live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange dipped on Wednesday, as easing post-holiday retail demand, combined with strong cash cattle prices, eats into processor profitability. “This week specifically is when we transition to buying for a lower-demand period, post-holidays,” said Rich Nelson, chief strategist at Allendale Inc. “Packer margins are […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder cattle market experiences diverse price behaviour

Manitoba calves hold a premium over Sask., Alta.

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded steady to $2 higher while calf prices were unchanged to $4 lower. Yearling supplies are limited and there appeared to be a surge of buying interest for 850-lb. thin-fleshed replacements. Alberta fed cattle basis levels for the second quarter of 2023 have above average and the […] Read more


CME February 2023 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle fall on wholesale beef weakness

Feeder cattle, February hogs also lower

Chicago | Reuters — Live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange slid on Tuesday, pressured by falling wholesale beef prices. “We had a really disappointing box beef value fall off to start the week yesterday, and a little follow through today,” said Matthew Wiegand, risk management consultant at FuturesOne. Most retailers have completed purchases […] Read more

CME January 2023 feeder cattle (candlesticks, right column) with CBOT March 2023 corn (orange line, left column). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME feeder cattle firm as corn inputs slide

Live cattle climb higher in deferred months; February hogs also up

Chicago | Reuters — Feeder cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange firmed for the fifth consecutive session, as corn, a significant input for producers, continues to fall, traders said. “The feeders have sort of been hobbled for a long time because of the elevated feed price,” said Dennis Smith, livestock analyst and broker at […] Read more


While the fed cattle market has held value, the feeder market has come under pressure.

Prairie feeder outlook bullish in the long term

Market Update with Jerry Klassen: Prices are encouraging many Canadian producers to keep replacement heifers

During the first half of October, Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis in the range of $300-$305 delivered. Using a 60 per cent grading, this would equate to $180-$183/cwt on a live basis. For March and April delivery, Alberta packers have been forward contracting in the range of $345-$350 cwt on […] Read more

Reg Schellenberg. (Schellenberg family photo via Canadian Cattlemen)

Canadian Cattle Association president Reg Schellenberg dies

Saskatchewan rancher had led CCA since March

Updated, Dec. 7 — Western Saskatchewan rancher Reg Schellenberg, who had led the national organization representing Canada’s beef cattle producers since March this year, died suddenly Friday at age 63. The Canadian Cattle Association reported Schellenberg’s death in a release Saturday, adding that the association’s current vice-president, rancher Nathan Phinney of Sackville, N.B., will now […] Read more


CME January 2023 feeder cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME feeder, live cattle firm as trade eyes supplies

February lean hogs close higher

Chicago | Reuters — Feeder cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange firmed on Friday, supported by lower feed grain costs and resilient live cattle futures, traders said. “The market has held together well, so there’s optimism there. Then you’ve got the grain market down double digits today, and down the day before,” said Altin […] Read more

CME February 2023 lean hogs with 20- and 100-day moving averages and CME cash lean hog index (blue line). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME lean hogs firm with supplies in focus

Feeder cattle up on supply expectations

Chicago | Reuters — Lean hog futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange firmed on Thursday, erasing the week’s earlier losses as smaller supplies of market-ready hogs offset seasonal pressure. “Fundamentally, we know we’re fairly tight on supplies. We’re not getting expansion,” said Alan Brugler, president of Brugler Marketing. The CME February lean hogs contract added […] Read more