(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder cattle prices surge

Western Canadian feeder cattle prices once again traded $3-$5 above week-ago levels, with shorter-keep quality cattle as much as $8 higher. Historically strong feeding margins, along with triple-digit gains in the futures market from Wednesday through Friday, set the positive tone. Feedlots that were holding back on purchases finally stepped forward, pushing the market to […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Live cattle hit one-year high on fund buying

U.S. livestock: Live cattle hit one-year high on fund buying

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle on Friday notched a one-year high for a third straight day, with strength from fund buying during the month’s final trading session, traders said. They said brisk wholesale beef demand and deferred-month futures’ discounts to this week’s cash prices helped drive contracts to fresh highs. Funds […] Read more



(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: Cash prices propel live cattle to one-year high

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle on Wednesday reached its highest level in a year, ignited by short-covering and futures’ discounts to initial cash prices, traders said. They said bargain buying briefly sent some deferred live cattle months to fresh highs and up their three-cents-per-pound daily price limit (all figures US$). April […] Read more



(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: Strong beef demand lifts live cattle to one-year high

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle on Tuesday spiked to their highest since mid-April 2016, driven by improved wholesale beef demand that may underpin cash prices this week, said traders. They said profit-taking pulled back-month futures down from new contract highs achieved earlier in the session. April live cattle closed 0.35 cent/lb. […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: Live cattle climb seventh straight session

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle rose on Monday for the seventh consecutive session, boosted by improved wholesale beef demand and futures’ discounts to recent cash prices, traders said. They said speculative buying and buy stops drove deferred contracts to fresh highs. April live cattle closed 1.05 cents/lb. higher at 126.425 cents […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Renewed confidence lifts feeder cattle market

Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $3-$5 above week-ago levels on average; stronger buying interest was noted on short-keep cattle with prices quoted $5 to as much as $8 higher. Feedlot operators stepped forward more aggressively with ideas that yearling supplies will dwindle over the next month. Quality cattle are starting to thin out at […] Read more


If you see a profit, take it

Markets have improved, but it likely won’t last

Fed and feeder cattle have been percolating higher over the past month as the market moves through a period of seasonal low beef production. Restaurant traffic sharply improves in March and April, and retail beef movement also increases. Consumers generally start eating more once spring rolls around and this year, the health of the overall […] Read more