Smoke rises from a wildfire near Wildwood, Alta., about 100 km west of Edmonton, on May 5, 2023. (Photo: Alberta Wildfire/Handout via Reuters)

Alberta ‘crossing fingers’ for rain amid wildfires

CN mainline traffic west of Edmonton suspended

Reuters — Firefighters were counting on rain and cooler weather forecast for Monday to help them quell a dramatic start to Alberta’s wildfire season. The province declared a state of emergency on Saturday in response to wildfires in northern and central regions that have displaced nearly 30,000 people and prompted energy producers to shut in […] Read more

CME June 2023 lean hogs with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hog futures extend losing streak

Feeder cattle turn higher on bargain buying

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures fell for the fourth straight session on Monday, with the most-active June contract hitting a new low, with traders focused on cash market weakness and light demand for pork. In CME cattle futures, feeder cattle contracts rebounded from six straight losing sessions on some bargain […] Read more


These two Black Angus bulls are used on the writer's ranch in Idaho as easy calving heifer bulls.

Females figure strongly in maternal bull selection

Look at calves, heifers and cows to get a better idea of maternal traits

There are several factors to consider when selecting a bull to sire replacement females. The bull makes a lasting contribution to the herd (good or bad). The quickest way to change genetics of a herd is through sire selection. You want that contribution to be beneficial, moving the herd in the best direction to meet […] Read more

CME June 2023 lean hogs with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Weak pork demand knocks lean hogs to contract lows

June live cattle up; feeder cattle down

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures sank to contract lows on Friday on concerns over anemic U.S. demand for pork, analysts said. The dramatic price decline fueled projections among traders that hog farmers may reduce their herds, after losing money for months on each pig they raise. Farmers are grappling with […] Read more


CME August 2023 feeder cattle with 10-, 20- and 30-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME feeder cattle stumble to three-week low

June live cattle, lean hogs also lower

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange feeder cattle futures slumped to their lowest price in more than three weeks on Thursday, while live cattle futures also eased. Traders said the markets were overbought and pressured by technical selling and long liquidation, after feeder cattle set contract highs last month and front-month live cattle futures […] Read more

CME June 2023 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle extend setback to six-week low

Lean hogs follow cattle futures lower

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures tumbled to a six-week low on Wednesday, extending a setback from an all-time high last month as technical selling and long liquidation hit the market, brokers said. Losses in equities also pressured cattle futures amid concerns that weakness in the U.S. economy could depress demand […] Read more


CME June 2023 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle hit five-week low

Technical selling, economic worries add pressure; June hogs up

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures dropped to their lowest level in more than five weeks on Tuesday as technical selling and concerns about the U.S. economy weighed on prices, analysts said. Economic worries increased after the failure over the weekend of First Republic Bank. Wall Street stock indexes sagged ahead […] Read more

CME June 2023 live cattle with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Live cattle, lean hogs turn lower

August feeder cattle down second day

The Chicago Mercantile Exchange’s most-active live cattle and lean hog futures turned lower Monday on a down day overall in livestock trade. CME June live cattle ended lower Monday after three consecutive days’ climb, at one point dipping below their 10-day moving average before closing at 164.875 cents/lb., down 0.6 cents on the day (all […] Read more


CME June 2023 lean hogs with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hog futures rise on cash market strength

CME cattle futures mixed

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange hog futures rose on Friday, supported by strength in the cash market and good overseas demand for pork, traders said. Cattle futures were mixed, with feeder cattle contracts easing on a round of profit-taking after setting new contract highs while live cattle contracts ended firm. CME’s most-active June […] Read more

U.S. and Canadian beef cow slaughter has been higher than expected throughout the first quarter of 2023, but this is expected to change.

Feeder cattle prices to peak this November

Market Update with Jerry Klassen: The fall of 2023 is not a good time to think about backgrounding calves

U.S. and Canadian feeder cattle prices have been trending higher over the past year. As of late March, quality genetic steers with medium to lower flesh, averaging 950 pounds were valued at $244 in Central Alberta. Higher quality heifers with lower flesh were trading at an $18-$20 discount to steers. Calf prices were also nearing […] Read more