The U.S. and Canadian beef cow herds remain in a contraction phase which is driving record beef market prices, analyst Jerry Klassen says.
Tag Archives cattle on feed
Beef cattle market continues to set records
The Markets: The U.S. and Canadian cow herds remain in a contraction phase
Beef cattle prices start to reduce demand
The Markets: Watch U.S. consumer buying trends for signs of the cattle market’s future
U.S. consumer purchasing has slowed, which means slower movement of cattle to beef processors. This will likely mean declining prices, says Jerry Klassen, market analyst.
Cattle markets try to adjust to tariffs
The Markets: There continue to be tight supplies for cattle that are ready to market, keeping prices high
There continue to be tight supplies for cattle that are ready to market, keeping prices high, despite tariff uncertainly in North America, analyst Jerry Klassen says.
U.S. cattle herd contraction coming to an end
The Markets: Watch for calf prices to start to decline in 2026
Beef calf price should continue to be strong in 2025, but a growing cow herd could mean lower prices in 2026.
Cattle market volatility increases as tariff uncertainty continues
Resumption of U.S./Mexico cattle trade will temper market upside
At the time of writing this article, the implementations of U.S. tariffs and Canadian retaliatory measures were delayed for 30 days. However, the threat remains. This is the wild card moving forward.
Tighter fed cattle supplies projected for second quarter
The Markets: The trend has been toward fewer cattle in feedlots across North America in late 2024
At the time of writing this article, April 2025 live cattle futures were trading just above $197, which was a fresh contract high. The market appears to be incorporating a risk premium due to uncertainty in beef production in both Canada and the U.S. This has provided Alberta feedlot operators opportunities to lock in favourable […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Cattle futures up to end week
Live and fed cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange posted small gains on Friday but ended the month off the contract highs hit earlier in the week.
Feeder market trades at or near historical highs
The Markets: Larger supplies by numbers and weight will mean more beef supply year over year
During the last week of October, Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis in the range of $403-$408 per hundredweight ($242-$245/cwt on a live basis). This was unchanged from a month earlier. Breakeven pen closeouts are in the range of $250-$255/cwt, so margins are in negative territory for the time being. The […] Read more
Tighter fed cattle supplies support feeder market
U.S. beef producers are not yet holding back enough heifers for expansion
During the first week of June, Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a live basis at $261 per hundredweight, f.o.b, feedlot in southern Alberta, up $4/cwt from a month earlier. Market-ready supplies of fed cattle were sharply above year-ago levels earlier in winter, but the backlog has slowly been alleviated through the spring period. […] Read more
Cattle market works to ration demand
Cattle prices are expected to reach historic highs this summer, then drop
During the first half of April, Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a live basis at $240 per hundredweight delivered, up $8/cwt from a month earlier. Market-ready fed cattle supplies in Alberta and Saskatchewan are tightening, causing the fed cattle basis to strengthen. While the Canadian domestic slaughter is running slightly below year-over-year levels, […] Read more
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