Dr. Gleise Silva hails from Recife, Brazil and earned her PhD in Florida before being named the BCRC-Hays research chair in beef production systems at the University of Alberta.

From Recife to Edmonton: Dr. Gleise Silva takes the helm of new research chair

Silva has a reputation for creating opportunities and an interest in connections between multiple research areas

Growing up in Recife, Brazil, an Atlantic port city criss-crossed by bridges and waterways that draws comparisons to Venice, Gleise Silva may have seemed like an unlikely candidate for a future beef cattle research chair. But Silva knew she wanted to work with animals one day. Her interest in agriculture and animals persisted through high […] Read more

Any legislation calling for harsh mandates regarding the current cattle price situation will just lead to unintended costs and consequences for all producers.

Beware of government “help”

Prime Cuts with Steve Kay

The government is here to help you. How many times have you heard that expression and reeled at what that help might mean? This is what the U.S. beef industry is facing in light of calls by U.S. lawmakers to demand government mandates on required minimum negotiated cash markets for live cattle. Some members of […] Read more


CME February 2022 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, dark red and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME cattle, hogs end down on profit-taking

Futures decline despite higher beef prices

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle, feeder cattle and hog futures ended lower on Friday as profit-taking hit the livestock markets ahead of the weekend, traders said. Live cattle futures consolidated after setting contract highs this week, traders said. Most-active CME February live cattle finished 0.625 cent lower at 138.95 cents/lb. (all […] Read more

CME February 2022 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, dark red and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle, hogs up with export demand

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle and lean hog futures rose again on Thursday, as fresh export numbers underscored strong demand for meat. Meanwhile prices on feeder cattle futures were mixed, as trades in the cash market prices jumped, traders said. Cash cattle had traded earlier in the week at $137-$138/cwt in […] Read more


AgriProfit$ key indicators for cow-calf operations are referred to as GOLD: Growth (weaning weight), Open (rate), Length (of calving period) and Death (losses).  Photo: Canada Beef.

McKinnon: Tips for starting newly weaned calves on feed

Nutrition with John McKinnon

It is Thanksgiving weekend as I write this column, which implies that across the country, cow-calf producers have or are looking to wean calves. While some producers will retain ownership and either background and/or finish their calves, the majority will be marketed either through an auction market, satellite/video sale or directly to a destination feedlot. […] Read more

CME January 2022 feeder cattle (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, dark red and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME cattle, hog futures finish higher

Investors' COVID concerns eased

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange livestock futures finished higher on Wednesday as the markets recovered after dropping the previous session to their lowest prices in more than a week. Prices rose as investors’ concerns eased about the Omicron coronavirus variant, which rattled commodity and financial markets on Tuesday, traders said. Chicago Board of […] Read more


CME February 2022 live cattle (candlesticks) with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle fall from highs as Omicron rattles markets

Chicago February lean hogs also lower

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures weakened on Tuesday as worries about the new Omicron coronavirus variant rattled commodity and financial markets. Losses pulled live cattle futures down from contract highs reached in recent sessions. CME lean hog futures also fell, along with U.S. grains and soybeans, after Moderna’s chief cast […] Read more

Brenna Grant, manager of CanFax Research Services, is leading a nationwide effort to set benchmarks for the cow-calf industry.

Cost of production network set to make its mark on cow-calf industry

CCA-backed project to find benchmarks that make the most sense to individual producers

Benchmarking has become a major part of running a business today. Whether it’s comparing this year’s performance to past performance or looking at your profitability compared to similar operations in your region or province, it’s considered an essential tool for setting production goals. But finding the best benchmarks can be tricky. There are hundreds of […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder market making seasonal lows

Surge of Canadian cattle exports expected

Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder markets were down $2-$4 on average. Prices for feeder cattle in the eastern Prairie regions were relatively unchanged from seven days earlier; however, values in Alberta and western Saskatchewan were down $4 to as much as $8 in some cases. This variation made the market hard to define. […] Read more

CME February 2022 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, dark red and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle post new highs, retreat on profit-taking

Chicago lean hogs close mixed

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures rose to multi-year highs on Monday but closed lower as profit-taking and technical selling clipped gains, traders said. The spread of a new coronavirus variant sparked demand worries as livestock traders feared renewed restrictions on travel and restaurant occupancy. But strong beef packer margins and […] Read more