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

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures rise on expectations of firm cash values

Hog market appears technically overbought

Chicago | Reuters — Live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange closed higher on Tuesday on expectations of firmer cash prices as supplies of market-ready cattle tighten, following a drop this past spring in the number of cattle placed in feedlots, traders said. “Packer margins are huge; they are still over $350 a head. […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Yearling markets mixed

Compared to last week, yearling prices for western Canadian were down $2-$5 on average with the exception of southern Alberta where prices were relatively unchanged. Major feedlots in the Lethbridge area focused on local cattle which contributed to the firmer tone. Outside of Feedlot Alley, weakness in the deferred live cattle futures had buyers on […] Read more


UQAR rector Jean-Pierre Ouellet, regional development minister Marie-Eve Proulx, UdeM rector Daniel Jutras, Dr. Christine Theoret, UdeM dean of veterinary medicine and provincial ag minister André Lamontagne (l-r) announced the funding Sept. 3, 2020 for the feasibility study. (UQAR photo by Stephane Lizotte)

Montreal’s veterinary college to study eastward expansion

Province backs feasibility study for Rimouski-based program

With a eye on expanding livestock veterinary services in the Lower St-Lawrence and Gaspesie, the Quebec government is backing a feasibility study to bring veterinary studies to the region. The province on Thursday announced assistance of $627,946 for 2019-20 for a feasibility study making a business case to offer the Universite de Montreal’s veterinary medicine […] Read more

CME October 2020 lean hogs with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hog futures hit four-month high on export hopes

Post-Labour Day beef demand in doubt

Chicago | Reuters — Strong export demand for U.S. pork pushed Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures to a four-month high on Friday. Traders are optimistic China, the world’s biggest pork consumer, will remain a strong buyer, after the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported strong weekly export sales on Thursday. Chinese importers have been bringing […] Read more


CME October 2020 lean hogs with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hogs hit four-month high on strong export sales

CME cattle lower on demand uncertainty

Chicago | Reuters — U.S lean hog futures jumped to a four-month high on Thursday on strong export demand and short covering, while cattle futures weakened. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported net U.S. pork export sales of 53,646 tonnes for the week ended Aug. 27, up 36 per cent from the previous week. China, […] Read more

(SCIC.ca)

Saskatchewan extends WLPIP premium rebate if needed

Rebate to offset premium prices, if above pre-COVID levels

Saskatchewan’s temporary subsidy against price jumps in premiums for the Western Livestock Price Insurance Program (WLPIP) will continue when needed to the end of 2020. Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corp. (SCIC), which administers the program in that province, announced Tuesday the WLPIP premium rebate is extended to Dec. 31, from its previous end date of Sept. […] Read more


Screenshot of the Gulf Livestock 1 from the website of Dubai-based shipping company Gulf Navigation. (GulfNav.com)

More than 40 crew missing after cattle ship capsizes in storm off Japan

Rescued crew member says engine failed, wave capsized ship

CORRECTED/UPDATED, Sept. 3 — Tokyo/Wellington | Reuters — More than 40 crew members were missing after a ship carrying cattle from New Zealand to China capsized in stormy weather in the East China Sea, the Japanese coast guard said Thursday. A lone crew member from the Gulf Livestock 1 had been rescued so far. Three […] Read more

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

U.S. livestock: Live cattle touch late-July lows on demand jitters

U.S. pork export data due out Thursday

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures on Wednesday dropped to their lowest prices since July amid uncertainty about how much U.S. demand will decline as the summer grilling season draws to a close. Beef and cattle prices are often weak this time of year as demand weakens. This year, closures of […] Read more


CME October 2020 live cattle with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Live cattle consolidate up off one-month low

CME hogs up as trade watches China

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures on Tuesday rose for a second consecutive session as the market consolidated after touching a one-month low on Monday, brokers said. Weakness in the cash market for U.S. cattle has hung over futures prices recently, but some traders said they hope the markets will not […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Yearling market remains red hot

Barley harvest well underway in southern Alberta

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were $2-$4 higher on average; however, in southern Alberta, yearlings traded $6-$8 above week-ago levels. A few auction barns in Alberta held their first feature sales of the fall run and buyers showed up with both hands. The quality of yearlings coming off grass is excellent and […] Read more