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.
Tag Archives cattle placements
Beef cattle prices start to reduce demand
The Markets: Watch U.S. consumer buying trends for signs of the cattle market’s future
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
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
Cattle market vulnerable to slower economic growth
The Markets: Watch consumer trends for indications of a beef price slowdown
Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis in the range of $425-$428/cwt delivered in mid-August. Live prices were quoted at $255/cwt (US$186), f.o.b. feedlot, in southern Alberta. The fed market has come off the summer highs as demand eases moving into the fall period. Monthly restaurant spending on both sides of 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
Lessons from last September’s cattle market drop
A small change in cattle numbers can result in a large drop in market value
CME (Chicago Mercantile Exchange) December 2023 live cattle futures made a high of US$199.75 per hundredweight on Sept. 15. The market held at the higher levels until the end of September and then started to trend low, bottoming around $166 on Dec. 7 (all figures US$). There were a few signals stating that the market […] Read more
Fed cattle market softens
The longer-term outlook remains bright, despite lots of cattle on feed
During the first week of January, Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis in the range of $363-$365 per hundredweight delivered. This was down marginally from the price range of $368-$370/cwt. during the week of December. In Kansas and Texas, live prices were US$171/cwt., down US$4/cwt. from 30 days earlier. U.S. packers […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Feeder cattle top one-week high
Traders digest U.S. cattle placements data; December hogs lower
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. feeder cattle futures and deferred live cattle futures finished higher on Monday after the government reported placements in feedlots were lower than analysts expected last month. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, in monthly data issued after the close of trading on Friday, said producers placed 3.8 per cent more cattle […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME cattle ease on larger U.S. supply, weaker equities
Lean hog futures continue higher
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle futures eased on Thursday, with losses in equities and bigger-than-expected U.S. livestock supplies dragging down the markets. Traders kept an eye on Wall Street as weakness in stocks and concerns about the economy can limit consumer demand for pricey beef, analysts said. Stocks closed lower amid signs […] Read more
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