Don’t forget everyday practices such as providing clean, dry bedding during calving season.

Reducing disease in newborn calves

Calving: News Roundup from the February 2020 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Extra vigilance before and during the calving season can pay off when it comes to producing healthy calves. “Newborn calf mortality can have a significant impact on calf crop percentage and ultimately your herd economics,” said Dr. Steve Hendrick, veterinarian with the Coaldale Veterinary Clinic in Coaldale, Alta. Hendrick spoke about reducing disease in newborn […] Read more


CME June 2020 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

Klassen: Feeder market remains under pressure

Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle prices were steady to $3 lower in Alberta while prices eroded by $2-$5 in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Noticeable weakness was evident in yearling prices, while grass cattle experienced limited slippage. Backgrounding operators are starting to liquidate fall-placed calves. Quality was quite variable, with fleshier cattle experiencing sharper […] Read more

CME June 2020 lean hogs with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Lean hogs, live cattle end mostly lower

Trade awaits direction from cash cattle market

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. hog futures closed mostly lower on Tuesday on concerns about a heavy slaughter pace coupled with uncertainty about export demand from China, the world’s biggest pork consumer, traders said. The weak tone underscored fears that the coronavirus outbreak in China could reduce export demand for pork at a time of […] Read more


CME April 2020 lean hogs with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Lean hogs end firm in rebound after contract lows

Live cattle up on bargain buying

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. hog futures closed mostly higher on Monday, with the benchmark April contract rebounding from a life-of-contract low on slightly firmer cash markets, traders said. Rallies were capped by continued uncertainty about the impact of the coronavirus on demand for commodities in China, the world’s top pork consumer. Fears of economic […] Read more

Tight supplies push fed cattle cash prices higher

Tight supplies push fed cattle cash prices higher

The Markets with Deb McMillin, from the February 2020 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Fed Cattle The fed cattle cash market had a great start in 2020. Tight market-ready supplies helped push prices higher and led to current feedlots as cattle were pulled ahead to sell into the stronger market. The fed steer price averaged $163.64/cwt the second week of the year, an improvement of $9/cwt from the beginning […] Read more



CME February 2020 lean hogs with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hogs limit down to contract lows

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. hog futures sank by their daily trading limit to contract lows on Thursday under pressure from hefty supplies and fears about the spreading coronavirus outbreak. Cattle futures also hit multi-month lows. U.S. hog supplies are large after farmers expanded their herds to supply new processing plants. But traders are now […] Read more


From top left: SVY Starstruck 938G with calf at side, Greenwood Electric Impact ET, Brooking Countess 7077 and Brooking Dusty’s Countess 9026, BIG-GULLY 109 ESPIONAGE 181G.

Canadian Western Agribition Highlights

Purely Purebred with Mike Millar: News about you from the January 2020 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Canadian Western Agribition hosted over 1,200 international guests from over 78 countries in 2019. The United States and Australia sent the most guests. A delegation of six came from Sweden, the largest official delegation to Agribition this year. At the Charolais sale, a heifer calf from Serhienko Cattle Co. from Maymont, Sask., sold to Full […] Read more

CME April 2020 live cattle with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hogs, cattle sink to multi-month lows

Ample supplies drag on cattle futures

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. hog and cattle futures dropped to fresh multi-month lows on Wednesday. Ample supplies and weakening cash markets weighed on the cattle contracts while concerns about demand from China pressured hog futures. The pressure on cattle comes at a time of year when the market tends to find support due to […] Read more