Core biosecurity principles and accompanying practices linked to livestock production now envelop all aspects of food production, preparation, manufacturing and human health.

Planes of biosecurity

Vet Advice with Dr. Ron Clarke

Simply defined, biosecurity encompasses procedures intended to protect humans and animals from disease or harmful biological agents. Animal biosecurity is a general description for measures designed to protect Canada’s animal resources from foreign and endemic infectious and parasitic disease agents at national, regional and farm levels. Many of the concepts related to biosecurity formally started […] Read more

CME June 2021 lean hogs with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hog futures gain as supply outlook wanes

Live cattle ease on higher grain prices

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures climbed on Wednesday, supported by tight supplies and low inventory of available young hogs for producers as summer demand ramps up, traders said. CME most-active June lean hogs added 2.45 cents, to 109.125 cents/lb., with all contract months but June notching life-of-contract highs (all figures US$). “Tighter […] Read more


Gelbvieh heifers settle in at Olds College

Gelbvieh heifers settle in at Olds College

Purely Purebred, news from the April 2021 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Fifty-four Gelbvieh and Gelbvieh-influenced heifers have arrived and are halfway through their warm-up at Olds College. The Canadian Gelbvieh Association is looking forward to the start of testing. The project measures docility and its potential impact on growth and conception rates. Fertility and growth are two primary economic drivers of the profitability of the commercial […] Read more

CME June 2021 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, brown, dark red lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Live cattle ease on higher grain costs

Feeder cattle, lean hogs mixed

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures eased on Tuesday, as higher input costs could lead to near-term selling of cattle as producers are resistant to paying higher feed costs, traders said. “You’ve got your cost of gains climbing and climbing,” said Scott Varilek, broker at Kooima Kooima Varilek Trading Inc. “Could be some […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder cattle divorce from futures’ direction

Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle prices were relatively unchanged. Higher-quality yearlings and calves were steady to $4 higher in Alberta and Saskatchewan; in Manitoba, yearlings traded $2-$4 lower while calves were $3-$5 higher. Domestic cattle markets appeared to divorce from feeder and live cattle futures. June live cattle futures finished the week […] Read more

CME August 2021 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, brown, dark red lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures climb on USDA report

Lean hog futures' gains continue

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures gained on Monday, supported by Friday’s monthly Cattle on Feed report that showed smaller-than-expected placements, traders said. Chicago Mercantile Exchange June live cattle futures settled 0.55 cent higher at 116.275 cents/lb. while the August contract ended 1.1 cents higher at 117.95 cents (all figures US$). “It wasn’t […] Read more


CME August 2021 live cattle with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures close narrowly mixed

CME hog futures climb

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures closed narrowly mixed on Friday, with nearby contracts pressured by lacklustre cash cattle trade and position-squaring ahead of a monthly government cattle report, analysts said. Chicago Mercantile Exchange June live cattle futures settled down 0.125 cent at 115.725 cents/lb. while the August contract ended up 0.125 cent […] Read more

CME June 2021 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, brown, red lines) and August 2021 feeder cattle (black line). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle, hog futures sag on technical selling

Wholesale beef prices supportive

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. cattle futures closed lower on Wednesday on lacklustre cash markets, soaring feed costs and technical selling, traders said. Chicago Mercantile Exchange June live cattle futures settled down 1.95 cents at 117.25 cents/lb., with chart-based selling accelerating as the contract fell below its 100-day moving average near 117.65 cents (all figures […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder cattle markets experience volatility

Beef prices encourage slaughter pace

Compared to the previous week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $3-$4 on either side of week-ago levels. Prices were quite variable across the Prairies with four main factors influencing buyer sentiment. First, the eastern Prairie regions experienced adverse winter weather. Auction barns in Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan had smaller volumes on offer. Buyers shied […] Read more

CME June 2021 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle bounce after eight-session skid

Lean hogs up on demand, cash prices

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures closed higher on Tuesday for the first time in nine sessions as brisk demand for beef and a rally in lean hog futures prompted a round of bargain-buying, traders said. Chicago Mercantile Exchange June live cattle settled up 0.6 cent at 119.2 cents/lb., and August feeder cattle […] Read more