(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder market starts year with cautious tone

Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were relatively unchanged to slightly softer compared to mid-December. The market was lightly tested, with direct off farm to feedlot trade, but auction market activity was rather quiet. Winter conditions in southern Alberta caused buyers to be on the defensive, with lighter calves reflecting small discounts; however, vaccinated feeders on […] Read more

CME February 2019 lean hogs with 50-day moving average. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hogs rise on China hopes

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange hog futures were mostly higher on Tuesday, supported by prospects for improving export demand, traders said. The market was waiting for a pickup in deals from China due to the spread of African swine fever there. “That hope is still out there, but it’s elusive, and it’s up […] Read more


(Shadowinternet/E+/Getty Images)

PEDv arrives in Alberta hogs

Veterinary officials in Alberta are now investigating the province’s first-ever outbreak of porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) in hogs. Alberta Pork, the province’s hog producer commission, and the provincial government on Tuesday announced an outbreak of the viral disease at what was described as a “400-head hog operation.” Javier Bahamon, quality assurance and production manager for […] Read more




U.S. livestock: Cattle ease on technical selling after steady cash sales

U.S. livestock: Cattle ease on technical selling after steady cash sales

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. cattle futures eased as much as one per cent on Thursday, weighed down by technical selling and steady deals in cash markets in the southern Plains, traders and analysts said. Live cattle futures weakened for the fourth straight session on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. The market had climbed to life-of-contract […] Read more





CME February 2019 live cattle with 100-day moving average. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle weaken on profit-taking, hogs firmer

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures finished slightly lower on Monday as traders locked in profits in end-of-year position squaring, after prices earlier touched contract highs, traders said. Lean hog futures were mostly higher, buoyed by short-covering and position squaring on the final trading day of the month, quarter and year. Cattle futures […] Read more

CME January 2019 feeder cattle with 50-day moving average. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle edge higher on technical buying, weather

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures edged higher on Friday, buoyed by technical buying and as wintry weather in the U.S. Plains hampered transportation of animals to market, traders and analysts said. Heavy snowfall, rains and falling temperatures in much of the central U.S. stressed livestock, likely slowing weight gains in […] Read more