(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder market stabilizes after recent climb

Calf prices in Manitoba show premium over Alberta

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $2-$3 on either side of unchanged. Replacements weighing 650-800 lbs. appeared to traded steady to $4 higher while calves under 650 lbs. were steady to $4 lower. The cost per pound gain is reaching unprecedented levels and fleshier cattle were discounted quite severely in some cases. […] Read more

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

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle post near-eight-year highs

Firming cash prices support February, April live cattle; hogs lower

Chicago | Reuters — Benchmark live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange set life-of-contract highs on Friday and the front contract hit its highest since 2015 as shrinking cattle supplies lifted cash prices, traders said. Market-ready cattle traded in southern Plains cash markets at $160-$162 per hundredweight (cwt), traders said, steady to $2 higher […] Read more


Fed cattle supply is expected to tighten in the near term and demand for beef products through the spring will seasonally increase.

Beef demand remains strong, cattle supply expected to tighten

The Markets with Deb McMillin, from the March 2023 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Fed cattle Since the start of 2023, the fed cattle cash market has continued to grind higher. By mid-February, the Alberta fed steer price was $194.10/cwt, which is more than an $8/cwt improvement since the start of 2023, and over $34/cwt higher than the same week in 2022. Although prices have improved, the Canadian market […] Read more

CME April 2023 lean hogs with 20- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hogs, most live cattle lower

Feeder cattle futures also down

Chicago lean hog and cattle futures closed mainly lower Thursday with the exception of front-month February live cattle, which remained on its record-setting upward slope. CME February live cattle finished up 0.225 cent at 162.775 cents/lb., extending the nearly-eight-year high on a continuous chart of the front contract (all figures US$). Most actively-traded April live […] Read more


Canadian Angus calving book available as an app

Canadian Angus calving book available as an app

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

Just in time for calving season, the folks over at the Canadian Angus Association are excited to share that the new Canadian Angus calving book app is now available as a free download from the Apple Store for your Apple device (the Android version will be available soon). To find the app search for “Canadian […] Read more

CME February 2023 live cattle with 20-day moving average and April (dark red line) and June (black line) 2023 live cattle. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME spot live cattle futures near eight-year top

Deferred-month cattle, lean hogs lower

Chicago | Reuters — Front-month live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange reached a near eight-year high on Wednesday, supported by tightening U.S. cattle supplies and rising wholesale beef prices, while the most actively traded contracts drifted lower as market players awaited more direction from cash cattle markets. CME’s spot February live cattle futures […] Read more


Lisa Christie with Xerris demonstrates how the CBIN application works at the Canadian Beef Breeds Council AGM during Agribition.

Canadian Beef Breeds Council to launch genetic data hub

The hub will allow breed association members to track and link genetic data, as well as everything from birth weights to ultrasounds

It’s Canadian Western Agribition week, and the aroma of mini donuts, hamburgers and smoothies mixes with the more distinct smell of livestock in every room. In the Queensbury Convention Centre, the crowd noise crowd has dimmed. Members of the breed associations are here for the Canadian Beef Breeds Council annual general meeting, and one of […] Read more

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

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle ease on profit-taking

February cattle lower after nearing eight-year top; hogs follow cash prices higher

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures closed lower on Tuesday on profit-taking after rising to the highest levels in nearly eight years, with worries about the health of the U.S. economy adding to bearish sentiment, analysts said. Benchmark April live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange settled down 0.425 cent at 164.675 […] Read more