File photo of cattle in an Alberta feedlot. (Geralyn Wichers photo)

Klassen: Cash feeder prices soften on futures market uncertainty

Supplies are higher than expected as consumers reign in spending

The live and feeder cattle futures appear to be incorporating a risk discount due to the uncertainty in demand. Consumers are pulling in the reigns on spending. Interest rates are at 40 year highs and inflation remains elevated. Larger supplies and lower demand results in lower prices.

(Glacier FarmMedia staff photo)

Legislation allows Quebec’s UPA to rework funding formula

Bill 28 passes Quebec assembly

Quebec’s legislative assembly has passed a bill allowing the province’s overarching general farm organization, the Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA), to start the process toward a new funding model. Provincial Agriculture Minister Andre Lamontagne on Thursday announced the passage of Bill 28, which amends legislation governing organization of farming activities and the accreditation of UPA. […] Read more


JBS signage at Greeley, Colorado. (JBS.com.br)

Third-quarter profit plunges for JBS

Low U.S. pork prices, beef margins and global chicken glut cited

Sao Paulo | Reuters — JBS SA, the world’s biggest meatpacker, reported an 86 per cent drop in third-quarter net income compared to a year ago on Monday, sliding to around 573 million reais (C$166.3 million). Net income was under the LSEG consensus forecast of 724 million reais, and far below the whopping four billion-real […] Read more

CME February 2024 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME cattle up off last week’s sell-off

Lean hog futures also turn higher

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle and feeder futures advanced on Monday in a rebound from recent declines to multi-month lows. Short-covering helped boost the markets, as losses driven by fund liquidation and technical selling last week were overdone, brokers said. The U.S. beef industry still faces tight supplies of cattle, after […] Read more


CME February 2024 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle mixed, feeder cattle firm

Lean hogs up with pork cutout

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) live cattle futures ended the week mixed on Friday, as traders and analysts said technical and algorithmic trading sent contract prices whipsawing during the session. Feeder cattle futures firmed as Chicago corn futures posted a third straight weekly decline, as grain markets continued to react to a […] Read more

Hereford breeders gather in Manitoba

Purely Purebred, news from the November 2023 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

On August 26, the Manitoba Hereford Association held their 2023 field day hosted by Twin View Polled Herefords, with over 100 cattle entered. The association thanks judges Doug Allison, Neil Carson and Andre Steppler.  Show result highlights: Premier Breeder and Premier Exhibitor was RSK Farms. Commercial Calf Champion and Yearling Heifer Champion was KTCT. Commercial […] Read more


Auction mart report for the week of November 10, 2023

Auction mart report for the week of November 10, 2023

Regional market analysis from Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, courtesy of the Livestock Markets Association of Canada members

Southern Alberta, courtesy of Perlich Bros. This week 3,424 calves sold on a steady market. Light run of mixed yearlings. Mostly preg checked open heifers. Steer and heifer prices: Big run of slaughter cows this week. Selling for $3.00 to $5.00 lower. Light run of bred cows for the first sale. Selling to a strong […] Read more

Certified Angus Beef launches direct-to-consumer program

Certified Angus Beef launches direct-to-consumer program

Purely Purebred, news from the November 2023 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Could your freezer beef carry the Certified Angus Beef brand logo? Perhaps. With the launch of a new program, Angus farmers and ranchers in Canada now have the option to market their beef directly to consumers as Certified Angus Beef product. Ranch to Table, a direct partnership program between Certified Angus Beef and cattle operations […] Read more


CME December 2023 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle sell-off sends nearby contracts plunging

CME hogs mixed in choppy trade

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) cattle futures fell sharply on Thursday, amid fund liquidation, growing concern over consumer demand and signs of prices falling in the cash market. Traders and funds scrambled to shed some of their long positions, after betting the bull market in cattle futures would continue well into the […] Read more

Sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies for the week centred on Nov. 1, 2023, in degrees Celsius. (CPC.ncep.noaa.gov)

El Nino to continue through Northern Hemisphere spring, U.S. forecaster says

Reuters — El Nino weather conditions will continue through the Northern Hemisphere during April-June 2024 with a 62 per cent chance, a U.S. government weather forecaster said on Thursday. “Above-average sea surface temperatures (SST) across the equatorial Pacific Ocean were indicative of a strong El Nino, with anomalies increasing in the central and east-central Pacific […] Read more