More thoughts on market options

More thoughts on market options

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

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.)

Klassen: Feeder cattle jump on positive outlook

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.)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle reach another two-month high

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures reached a two-month high for a second straight day on Thursday, buoyed by this week’s stronger-than-anticipated cash prices, traders said. December live cattle closed up 0.025 cent/lb. to 108.225 cents, and February ended 0.3 cent higher at 108.8 cents (all figures US$). This week, packers […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: Strong cash prices boost CME live cattle

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures on Wednesday reached their highest level in two months, driven by fund buying and better-than-expected cash prices, said traders. December live cattle closed up 2.725 cents/lb. to 108.2 cents, and February ended 1.975 cents higher at 108.5 cents (all figures US$). On Wednesday packers paid […] Read more

(Regis Lefebure photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

U.S. livestock: Ample supplies drop hogs

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures on Tuesday fell for a third consecutive session, dragged down by weaker cash and wholesale pork prices amid abundant seasonal supplies, said traders. December closed down 0.775 cent/lb. to 46.125 cents, and February ended 0.7 cent/lb. lower at 52.9 cents (all figures US$). “There are […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Strong demand underpins feeder market

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

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle finish mostly firmer

Chicago | Reuters — Most Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle contracts on Monday finished modestly higher after investors sold December futures and simultaneously bought deferred months in a trading strategy known as bear-spreading, traders said. December live cattle closed down 0.025 cent per pound at 105.575 cents (all figures US$). February ended up 0.225 cent […] Read more


Producers hit with ‘sticker shock’

Market Update: Bottom of the market may be in sight in mid-2017

There was an old saying on the trading floor — “Up the mountain; down the mountain.” After extreme highs; traders need to prepare for extreme lows. Earlier in summer, I thought the cattle markets would start to stabilize and maybe turn around in October. However, I have to eat my words because as of mid-October, […] Read more

Photo: Canada Beef Inc.

Klassen: Feeder cattle markets establish fundamental equilibrium

Western Canadian feeder cattle markets were relatively unchanged from week-ago levels as most auction barns held featured or pre-sort calf sales. However, premiums of $3 to as much as $8 were noted on pre-conditioned, quality-weaned replacements. Time in the market is more important than timing the market; longer term risk adverse feeding reinforced the fact […] Read more