
Cow-calf

U.S. livestock: Cattle bounce after this week’s four-month lows
Plentiful hog supplies drag on futures
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures closed higher on Friday on bargain buying after the benchmark April contract fell to a 4-1/2-month low this week, with traders citing expectations for a seasonal pickup in beef demand, traders said. Benchmark April live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange settled up 1.8 cents at […] Read more

Alberta beef industry calls for regulatory change
Policy: News Roundup from the February 2020 issue of Canadian Cattlemen
While the Alberta beef industry has been competitive relative to the U.S., regulations and costs imposed by all three levels of government could dampen that competitiveness in the future, according to a recent report commissioned by the Alberta Cattle Feeders Association and Alberta Beef Producers. The study focused on the beef industries in Kansas, Nebraska […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Lean hogs edge up on hopes for Chinese demand
April live cattle up on short-covering
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures rose modestly on Thursday on technical buying and hopes China will step up purchases of U.S. agricultural goods including pork as the U.S.-China Phase One trade deal takes effect, brokers said. Benchmark April lean hog futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange settled up 0.3 cent at 64.075 […] Read more

Don’t fall into a ditch when expanding your land base
Affordability, planning and flexibility are all key factors to consider before moving onto new pasture
For most beef producers — especially those grazing cattle on pasture — land is your gold. And chances are that at some point you’re going to want more of it. The problem is demand for land today is arguably higher than ever. Precision farming has enabled grain and oilseed producers to crop on pasture-worthy marginal […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Cattle rise on broad commodity strength
Nearby hogs down on weak cash values
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures closed higher on Wednesday, bouncing off a four-month low on bargain buying along with broad-based strength in equity and commodity markets as fears subsided about the impact of the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak in China. The benchmark April live cattle futures contract on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Cattle sag on weaker cash trade
Coronavirus jitters also rattle cattle markets
Chicago | Reuters –– U.S. live cattle futures fell on Tuesday, with the benchmark April contract touching its lowest since late September on falling cash cattle prices and worries about the impact of the coronavirus outbreak in China, traders said. Cash cattle traded lightly in Kansas and Nebraska at $119-$120 per cwt, traders said, down […] Read more

Klassen: Uncertain beef demand weighs on feeder market
Compared to last week, western Canadian prices for yearling and heavier calves were down $2-$4 on average. The calf market was hard to define; Alberta markets traded $3 lower to $4 higher but notable strength was evident in Saskatchewan and Manitoba where values were steady to $4 higher. Favourable weather contributed to higher auction market […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Live cattle, hogs slip on concerns over export demand
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures closed lower on Monday as optimism over export demand began to cool, and live cattle futures fell as pressure from slumping cash prices continued to weigh on the market, traders said. Benchmark April lean hog futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) settled down 1.175 cents at […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Hogs limit up on Tyson comment, short-covering
Cattle futures follow hogs higher
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures surged their daily three-cent limit on Thursday after comments from a Tyson Foods executive about pork demand from China ignited a wave of buying including short-covering, traders said. Tyson is competing with other global companies to supply meat to China, the world’s largest pork consumer, as an […] Read more

Linking mental health and animal welfare
As a veterinary social worker, Erin Wasson sees the effects of mental health struggles on people and their animals
Erin Wasson’s social work career started out fairly conventionally, as she worked with children, youth, the elderly and people with disabilities. But a decision to upgrade her education led her to a new field, working with people who care for animals. While completing a graduate degree, Wasson met the deans from the Western College of […] Read more