Livestock & Production Tips

Klassen: Yearling price trend stalls while calves ratchet higher

Larger players aggressively securing lightweight calves on expectations of low yearling supplies

By Jerry Klassen, GFM Network News March 12, 2024

Western Canadian feedlots are carrying sufficient numbers for the time being and feeding margins remain deep in red ink on unhedged cattle. Secondly, carcass weights are sharply above year-ago levels and Alberta finishing lots are backed up with market-ready supplies.

General, Livestock, Reuters

Tyson Foods to close Iowa pork plant with 1,200 workers

Packer's pork business saw loss of $128 million in last fiscal year

By Reuters, Tom Polansek, GFM Network News March 11, 2024

Tyson Foods will permanently close a pork plant in Perry, Iowa, the meatpacker said on Monday, eliminating jobs for about 1,200 workers.

The shortage of veterinarians often becomes most apparent during calving season. |

Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

How to manage in a veterinarian shortage

Hauling an animal to a clinic is one solution, as are larger clinics with satellite sites

By Roy Lewis March 8, 2024

There’s huge talk about the shortage of veterinarians — especially large-animal, but also small-animal and emergency animal care. There was a recent announcement that the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM) will raise the number of training seats to 100 from the current 50, when an expansion is completed next year. I would […] Read more

The U.S. calf crop for 2023 came in at 33.593 million head, down 846,500 from the 2022 calf crop of 34.44 million.

Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Columns, Markets

Lower U.S. calf crop supports cattle complex

Conditions are developing that should support record calf prices next fall

By Jerry Klassen March 6, 2024

The Alberta fed cattle market remains under pressure due to a buildup of market-ready cattle, larger carcass weights and seasonally low demand. During the last week of January, Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis in the range of $360-$365 per hundredweight delivered. Live bids f.o.b. feedlot in southern Alberta were quoted […] Read more

Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Grassers and herd rebuilding confidence keeps feeders elevated

Major grazing regions of Western Canada receive more than double of normal precipitation in last month

By Jerry Klassen, GFM Network News March 5, 2024

The major grazing regions of Western Canada have received over 200 per cent of normal precipitation over the past 30 days. Grassers were red hot. Demand has also increased for herd building heifers which has diminished supplies for finishing feedlots.

Pascal Houle, Chief Executive Officer of Sollio Cooperative Group at its 2024 annual general meeting. (CNW Group/Sollio Cooperative Group)

General, Livestock

Olymel parent company posts profit after plant closures

The company closed plants in Ontario, Quebec, and slowed production in the west in 2023

By Geralyn Wichers, GFM Network News March 4, 2024

Sollio Cooperative Group, parent company of meat processor Olymel, says it’s back in the black after a period of losses led to closures and cut-backs.

Beef cows’ TDN energy maintenance requirements generally increase about two per cent for every degree Celsius drop in temperature below freezing.

Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Columns

Beef cows in good condition, feed accordingly

Optimize cows' condition with target diets based on the animals' BCS

By Peter Vitti February 29, 2024

A warm start to winter has caused many beef cows after weaning to come off pasture in decent shape. Some of these cows are not truly obese, but they retained a lot of flesh. Those beef cows in optimum body condition should be put on a nutritious feeding program that maintains them until they calve […] Read more

When commercial and managed-money positions are at an extreme low or high, that represents a turning signal for the market.

Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Columns, Markets

Understanding the Commitments of Traders report

The U.S. report, released every Friday, is an important indicator of cattle market movement

By Jerry Klassen February 29, 2024

Who is long? Who is short? How much of each? This is the most important market information when studying the futures markets. The Commitments of Traders (CoT) report is released every Friday afternoon by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and shows the trading positions of market participants as of Tuesday’s close. Whether you […] Read more

General, Livestock, Reuters

New York sues meatpacking giant JBS over climate claims

Attorney general calls company's emissions goals 'infeasible'

By Reuters, GFM Network News February 28, 2024

JBS, the world's largest beef producer, was sued on Wednesday by New York state's attorney general, which accused it of misleading the public about its impact on the environment in order to boost sales.

Photo: Michelle Erickson-Jones/iStock/Getty Images

Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Statistics Canada confirms lower feeder cattle supplies

Precipitation in Alberta, Saskatchewan increases demand for grassers

By Jerry Klassen, GFM Network News February 27, 2024

Compared to last week, Western Canadian yearling or backgrounded steers prices were quoted $5 to $8 higher; yearling or backgrounded heifers were unchanged to $4 higher. Calves were trading $4 to as much as $10 higher.

U.S. grains: Soybeans, corn fall on harvest pressure

U.S. livestock: Hog futures slide in technical correction

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: Acknowledging the past, seeking a better future

GFM Network News