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Tag Archives cattle prices

Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock, Markets

Understanding feeder cattle risk: Pt. 2

Market Update with Jerry Klassen: You don’t want to be using marketing tools to lock in a loss

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The feeder cattle market has experienced extreme volatility over the past three years. For this reason, I’ve been writing on managing financial risk for feeder cattle and particularly for backgrounding operations and cow calf producers. In the first column, I discussed the mechanics of hedging, explained historical basis levels and using these basis levels to […] Read more
(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)
Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Feeder cattle drop on cautious feedlot demand

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Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $3 to as much as $8 below week-ago levels as feedlot managers anticipate growing beef supplies during the late spring and summer. Heavier weight categories absorbed the brunt of the selling pressure, with backgrounding operators liquidating fall-placed calves. Certain groups of higher-quality heifers held value with the purpose of […] Read more
Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock, Markets

Understanding feeder cattle risk: Pt. 1

Market Update with Jerry Klassen: A hedging program can remove some of the uncertainty

By
In the January 24 Grainews issue, I explained the feeder cattle futures market and the simple mechanics of hedging feeder cattle. In this column, I want to take one step further and discuss the financial risk associated with backgrounding or selling feeder cattle. Read more: Important to understand the futures Read more: Producers hit with […] Read more
(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)
Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Tenacious feeder market softens on supply forecasts

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Western Canadian feeder cattle prices traded steady to as much as $5 lower over the past week. Early in the week, buyers incorporated a risk discount due to the extremely cold temperatures, especially in the Eastern prairie regions. By Thursday, markets were factoring in the larger beef supply forecasts from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, […] Read more
(USDA.gov via Flickr)
Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Feeder cattle markets digest USDA inventory report

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Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $5 higher to as much as $10 lower compared to week-ago levels. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Cattle on Feed report, along with U.S. inventory data, confirmed larger beef supplies in upcoming months, which set a negative sentiment amongst feedlot operators. Auction markets experienced variable price ranges on similar-weight […] Read more
(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)
Beef Cattle, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Fed cattle uncertainty restricts upside in feeders

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Western Canadian feeder cattle were actively trading $3-$5 higher compared to week-ago levels. Order buyers felt like they were groping in the dark but realized there was a fair amount of buying interest by the week’s end. Alberta and Ontario orders were floating aggressively into Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan, which kept the market flat across […] Read more
More thoughts on market options
Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock, Markets

More thoughts on market options

You may not need a price premium to see benefits of preconditioned calves

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Market analyst Jerry Klassen in his recent column isn’t painting a very bright cattle price outlook picture heading into this winter and early into 2017. An oversupply of beef in the U.S. and Canada is holding prices down. And of course those pork guys continue to push more product out the door — a lot […] Read more
(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)
Beef Cattle, Finishers, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Feeder cattle jump on positive outlook

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Average prices for steer and heifer calves jumped $8-$10 this past week with some buyers reporting values as much as $15 above week-ago levels. Feedlot operators could feel it in their bones earlier in November and there were no strings attached on orders flowing across the Prairies. Favourable weather reinforced the narrow premium of weaned […] Read more
(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)
Beef Cattle, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: Strong demand underpins feeder market

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Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded steady to $3 above week-ago levels; however, weaned lower-flesh calves were $3 to as much as $6 higher. Southern Alberta calf sales are winding down while other regions are just getting started. This resulted in surreptitious behaviour from Lethbridge-area feedlot operators. Orders stretched across the Prairies, like a slow-moving […] Read more

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