(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder cattle drop on cautious feedlot demand

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

(Canada Beef Inc. photo)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle rebound on cash, beef prices

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures halted a two-day slide on Friday, sparked by improved wholesale beef values and better-than-expected cash prices, said traders. They said buy stops and technical buying furthered live cattle market advances. CME livestock markets will be closed on Monday in observance of the Presidents Day holiday. […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: Cash price unease pressures CME live cattle

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures on Thursday slipped for a second straight day, amid investor caution while waiting for remaining cash cattle to change hands by Friday, said traders. Short-covering and futures’ discounts to early-week cash returns provided downside market support, they said. February live cattle closed down 0.25 cent/lb. […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle, hogs slump on profit-taking

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures on Wednesday bowed to profit-taking, prompted by softer wholesale beef values and uncertainty about cash prices this week, traders said. Technical selling contributed to market losses, they noted. February live cattle closed 0.6 cent/lb. lower at 116.775 cents, and below the 10-day moving average of […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: Firmer beef quote rallies CME live cattle

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures posted strong gains on Tuesday, reversing Monday’s selloff, fueled by short-covering and wholesale beef price rebound, said traders. Technical buying ensued after investors bought the February contract and simultaneously sold deferred months in a trading strategy known as bull spreads. February live cattle closed 1.45 […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Tenacious feeder market softens on supply forecasts

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


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle brace for possible weak cash prices

Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures sagged on Monday in advance of potentially lower cash prices this week as packers attempt to recover lost profits, said traders. February live cattle closed down 0.475 cent/lb. at 115.925 cents, and April was 0.625 cent lower at 112.525 cents (all figures US$). Monday’s average […] Read more