
Beef cattle

Klassen: Feeder market factors in lower barley prices
Strength in deferred live cattle futures also supportive
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearlings over 800 lbs. jumped $4 to as much as $10 in some cases. Steers in the 700- to 800-lb. category appeared to be up $10-$12 while similar-weight heifers were up $8-$10. Calves under 700 lbs. were up $10-$20. The feeder market was hard to define in some cases. […] Read more

JBS to pay US$25 million in latest beef price-fixing settlement
Settlement calls for co-operation in cases against other defendants
Reuters — JBS SA has agreed to pay US$25 million to commercial beef purchasers that accused the meat-packing company of conspiring with industry rivals to restrict market supply in order to keep prices artificially high. The proposed settlement in Minnesota federal court was disclosed on Friday from plaintiffs’ lawyers representing a class of businesses that […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME feeder cattle hit new highs on supplies, cash market
Live cattle, lean hogs also up
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange feeder cattle futures hit new all-time highs in the nearby contracts on Monday, as bidding wars continue to rally cash prices as more producers show interest in expanding their herds, traders said. The rally helped give a boost to the pork market, where CME April lean hogs ended […] Read more
50K for the Future
Purely Purebred, news from the April 2023 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
Bohrson Marketing had another successful 50K for the Future scholarship program as part of their New Year’s Resolution sale. In the first round over 60 applicants submitted essays answering the question: “Who is your role model and how do they inspire you to be successful in the future?” Out of the initial go-round eight youth […] Read more

Spring demand, strong wholesale drives fed cattle prices
The Markets with Deb McMillin, from the May 2023 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
Fed cattle The cash market in the U.S. rebounded following a drop in March in response to the mid-month financial turmoil. In Canada, the cash market was not negatively affected and steadily improved, posting new record highs. The first week of April saw the fed steer average in Alberta at $217.59/cwt, an improvement of $7.17/cwt […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle pull back from all-time highs
Chicago lean hogs up off contract lows
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures retreated on Friday after racing to all-time highs during the previous three sessions as tightening U.S. supplies rallied cash prices. Profit-taking and technical pressured futures following the surge, though the market could still post new highs moving forward, analysts said. Surging cash prices this week […] Read more

Canadian Simmental Association hosts world congress, plus Shorthorn association news
Purely Purebred, news from the April 2023 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
The Canadian Simmental Association is proud to announce that the World Simmental Fleckvieh Congress is coming to Canada in 2024. Watch for details in the upcoming months. In other news from the Canadian Simmental Association, they are looking for a member services representative to work with the association this spring. Check the position out on […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle hit another record high
Cattle producers seen playing hard ball; hogs touch contract lows
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures set a record high for the third consecutive session on Thursday as producers held out for higher prices from meatpackers searching for supplies, brokers said. Strong cash prices and tightening supplies have pushed futures above a 2014 record for the front-month contract, after ranchers reduced […] Read more

Improving alfalfa’s flood and drought tolerance
Research on the Record with Reynold Bergen
One of last year’s research columns bemoaned the fact that only four out of 119 alfalfa varieties registered in Canada between 2012 and 2022 had been developed in Canada. The rest were from China, Australia or the U.S. Since then, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has approved nine more varieties originating from Washington, Wisconsin, […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle hit record high as packers scramble for supplies
Chicago lean hogs continue lower
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures stormed to an all-time high on Wednesday as meatpackers scrambled to buy livestock at a time when supplies are tightening, brokers said. Ranchers have reduced their herds due to high feed costs and drought in the western U.S., forcing packers such as Tyson Foods and […] Read more