
Livestock — page 2
The new normal in livestock feed biosecurity
Disease risk in imported feeds needs to be taken seriously
New research is showing that animal feed can carry major animal disease including African Swine Fever (ASF), says Scott Dee, veterinarian and director of applied research for Minnesota-based Pipestone Veterinary Services. In a presentation to hog producers at the Banff Pork Seminar earlier this winter, Dee gave an update on a rapidly changing world of […] Read more

Klassen: Feeder market digests USDA acreage report
Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets were relatively unchanged. Lower flesh yearlings appeared to trade $2-$3 higher in certain pockets of Alberta but replacements carrying excessive butter experienced severe discounts of $6 to as much as $10 in some cases. October and December live cattle futures made fresh contract highs, which underpinned […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Live cattle, lean hogs set new contract highs
June hogs turn lower before close
Chicago | Reuters — Strong meat demand pushed U.S. live cattle and lean hog futures to new contract highs on Monday. The cattle market benefited from increasing demand for beef as the U.S. is entering the summer grilling season, analysts said. Prices for choice cuts of boxed beef soared by $5.82, to $258.67/cwt, while select […] Read more

U.S. pork processors face higher costs, slower speeds after court ruling
Chicago | Reuters — An industry group representing America’s biggest meatpackers on Thursday pushed the U.S. Department of Agriculture to appeal a federal court decision that canceled an agency rule that allows pork plants to slaughter pigs more quickly. The decision issued Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Minnesota could raise costs for meatpackers like […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Lean hog futures notch contract highs
Chicago live cattle retreat
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures rose on Thursday, with several contract months including the benchmark June setting life-of-contract highs on firm cash markets and strong demand for pork, traders said. Chicago Mercantile Exchange June lean hogs settled up 1.025 cents at 106.325 cents/lb., after recording a contract high at 106.725 cents (all […] Read more

Eco-anxiety and why it matters on the farm
Working toward positive solutions is important to the future of our farms and ranches
According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, Eco-anxiety (EA) is defined as a “deep fear of environmental doom and human catastrophe.” EA can bring on the same symptoms as the more familiar types of anxiety such as panic attacks, sleeplessness and depression. So how does this matter to your farm or ranch? Firstly, you may […] Read more

Klassen: Feeder cattle market exhibits defensive tone
March 30 — Compared to the previous week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded steady to $3 lower on average. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis in the range of $245-$249 delivered, down from the average value of $250 seven days earlier. Deteriorating feeding margins set a negative tone for the […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Limit-up grains pressure feeder cattle, lean hogs
Beef demand supports CME live cattle
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. feeder cattle futures dropped on Wednesday, reacting to limit-up gains in corn and soybean futures that will translate to higher livestock feed costs as grain users compete for tight supplies, traders said. On the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the most-active May feeder cattle contract finished 2.8 cents lower at 149.4 cents […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Lean hog futures rise as cash market firms
Rally pauses in CME cattle futures
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures rose on Tuesday, with the benchmark June contract setting a life-of-contract high on firm cash hog prices and signs of tightening supplies at a time of robust demand for pork, analysts said. On the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, most-active June lean hog futures settled up 0.8 cent at […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Firm beef prices lead cattle futures higher
CME lean hogs' rally pauses
Chicago | Reuters — Benchmark live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange climbed to a contract high on Monday, led by firming wholesale beef prices as the summer grilling season approaches with the U.S. economy seems poised to rebound from the coronavirus pandemic, traders said. Feeder cattle futures also set contract highs. CME April […] Read more
Grainews is written for farmers and often by farmers. It is about putting theory into practice on the farm. Each issue also features Cattleman’s Corner for cow-calf producers and farmers with mixed cattle and grain operations.