(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: Live cattle rally on stronger Plains cash market

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures climbed to fresh three-month highs on Friday as firming beef packer bids at U.S. Plains feedlot markets fueled expectations of higher cash cattle sales this week. Tighter supplies of market-ready cattle on feedlot showlists this week helped to support the cash market. Trading later developed […] Read more




cattle in a feedlot

Market message: Time to cut beef production

Market Update with Jerry Klassen: The market will bounce back temporarily, but producers should consider liquidating cows

Western Canadian cattle prices have been quite volatile over the past month. Alberta fed cattle prices climbed higher for seven weeks in a row from late November through the first week of January. Alberta packer bids rose from $147 to highs of $167 during this time. The finished market appeared to divorce from the live […] Read more



(JBSs.infoinvest.com.br)

JBS to shed U.S. feedlot chain

The remaining feedlots in meat packing giant JBS’s Five Rivers Cattle Feeding business, the world’s biggest cattle feeding operation, have found a buyer. JBS on Wednesday announced a deal to sell the U.S.-based assets of Five Rivers to affiliates of New York-based Pinnacle Asset Management for about US$200 million. The deal gives Pinnacle 11 feedlots […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder market lacks demand in new tax year

Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle traded $8-$10 lower while U.S. prices were also down $5-$10 from week-ago levels. The feeder market appeared to short-circuit after I thought the market was charged to move higher in last week’s report. Feedlot operators and cattle feeders saturated their demand prior to the New Year and […] Read more

Today’s cash cattle market is deceiving

Today’s cash cattle market is deceiving

Market Update: It will be a different market in late 2018 compared to late 2017

It’s that time of year when most feedlot and backgrounding operations are running near full capacity and the focus turns to marketing. The live and feeder cattle futures had been quite volatile over the past month when this was written in late December, which can make cattle producers quite nervous. While the futures market has […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder market ends 2017 on positive tone

Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $2 to as much as $6 higher. Moderate to stronger buying interest was noted across the Prairies. Once again, feedlot operators were fairly aggressive on quality yearling packages; semi-weaned and weaned calves were a solid $3-$5 higher while unweaned lighter calves experienced minimal price appreciation. […] Read more

(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