(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Stronger fed cattle market underpins feeder complex

Alberta fed cattle prices surged $11-$12 this past week, with packers buying fed cattle in the range of $262-$264 on a dressed basis. While most feedlot operations are carrying sufficient numbers at this time of year, quality packages of heavier replacements were extremely precious. Yearlings and calves above 850 lbs. sold steady to $5 above […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: Cash prices fuel higher CME live cattle futures

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures on Friday closed up 2.3 per cent, their biggest one-day gain in over a month, after packers paid more for livestock than expected, said traders. Buy stops, short-covering and fund buying accelerated futures advances, they said. December live cattle finished 2.625 cents/lb. higher at 118.9 […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle rebound

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures closed higher on Thursday after short-covering and fund buying pared Wednesday’s losses, said traders. Expectations for steady to weaker prices for slaughter-ready, or cash, cattle by Friday pulled futures from morning highs, they said. December live cattle finished up 0.625 cent/lb. at 116.275 cents, and […] Read more

(File photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle give back some Tuesday gains

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures closed lower on Wednesday after softer wholesale beef demand and this week’s expectations for steady-to-lower cash prices erased some of Tuesday’s rally, said traders. Technical selling further weighed on CME’s live cattle market, they said. December live cattle finished down 0.5 cent/lb. to 115.65 cents […] Read more



Strong demand enhances cattle prices

Market Update: Consumer spending in the U.S. is a major price driver

Fed and feeder cattle prices have been ratcheting higher over the past month due to stronger-than-expected demand. Consumer confidence reached record highs in October and U.S. third-quarter GDP also came in above expectations. This economic data confirms that consumer spending is stronger than anticipated, enhancing overall beef demand. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle in […] Read more





(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: Live cattle extend slide on long liquidation

Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange February live cattle futures fell on Friday for a seventh straight session on technical selling including fund long liquidation and uncertainty about near-term beef demand, traders said. “We have a lot of protein around right now. We have a few holidays later this month to move some of […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: Live cattle sag for sixth straight session

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange February live cattle futures fell Thursday for a sixth straight session, pressured by fund-driven long liquidation, falling cash cattle prices and softening wholesale beef demand, traders said. “Fund liquidation continues be a factor in the meat complex, although lower product prices are adding justification for the selling at […] Read more