Payne Livestock.

Canadian Limousin Association Awards of Distinction

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

The Canadian Limousin Association (CLA) recently bestowed its 2023 CLA Award of Distinction to two operations: Payne Livestock, and David Carson Farms and Auction Services Ltd.  (Below is a shortened version of a write-up by Ashton Hewson) Rocky and Debbie Payne celebrated the 24th anniversary of Payne Livestock in 2023. Located near Lloydminster, Sask., Payne […] Read more

CME June 2023 live cattle with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME cattle slide on profit-taking

April lean hogs set contract low

Chicago | Reuters — Profit-taking pushed down Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle futures on Tuesday, while front-month lean hog futures tumbled to another contract low. Losses on Wall Street helped set a negative tone for the markets, as live cattle futures pulled back from contract highs reached on Monday, traders said. “Cattle-wise, we got a bit […] Read more


Photo: Canada Beef

Fed cattle prices reach new highs

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

Fed cattle Fed cattle prices in Canada reached new highs during the second week of March. Urged higher by tightening supplies, smaller beef production, solid demand and stronger cutout values, the average fed steer price reached $203.90/cwt in Alberta. An average of $203.90/cwt is an improvement of nearly 10 per cent or $17.86/cwt since the […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Alberta fed cattle lead feeder market higher

Traders expecting more barley acres this year

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $3-$5 higher while calf prices advanced $1-$3 on average. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis of $360/cwt last week, up $3-$10 from a week earlier. Using a 60 per cent grading, live prices would be equivalent to $216. Feeding margins have improved […] Read more


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

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle down off highs on profit-taking

Hogs continue mixed on U.S. farrowing intentions

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures slumped on Monday as profit-taking dragged prices down after the market set new contract highs, traders said. CME June live cattle ended down 0.9 cent at 161.225 cents/lb., after reaching a high of 162.525 cents/lb. (all figures US$). That exceeded Friday’s high of 162.175 cents/lb. […] Read more

CME July 2023 lean hogs with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME hogs up in deferred months

USDA report fuels supply uncertainty; cattle up on cash strength

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures rose in deferred contracts on Friday on U.S. producers’ plans for fewer sows to farrow, analysts said. Producers intend to have 2.93 million sows farrow, or give birth, from March to May, down one per cent from actual farrowings a year earlier, the U.S. Department […] Read more


Graphic: Courtesy Canadian Beef Cattle Check-Off Agency


Canadian beef check-off pays off

A look at the formation of Canada’s unique check-off program and the activities it funds

Canada’s ability to attract buyers such as McDonald’s to its beef products can be attributed to producers themselves funding research, marketing and public outreach through check-off dollars. “We realized that, if we were going to be a world-class producer of high-quality beef, and continue to grow, we needed to make an investment in research and […] Read more

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

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle set contract high as cash prices jump

USDA sees hog farrowing intentions down on year

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures strengthened on Thursday, with the front-month contract setting a new high, as cash prices climbed. Cash cattle trades of around $170-$171/cwt in western Nebraska and around $172/cwt in northwest Iowa ignited the rally in futures, analysts said (all figures US$). Cash prices were up about […] Read more


CME April 2023 live cattle with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle hit three-week peak on tightening U.S. supply

Weak cash prices drag on hog futures

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures marched to a three-week high on Wednesday on expectations for tighter U.S. supplies, analysts said. Feeder cattle futures also advanced, while lean hogs softened. Technical buying helped support live cattle, analysts said, after a drop near eight-week lows last week was seen as overdone. The […] Read more

Whether to use risk-based vaccines in your herd requires careful thought and at least a yearly discussion with your herd veterinarian.

Core vaccines recommended for western Canadian beef herds

When looking at vaccinating for diseases beyond the core vaccination recommendations, consider the disease risk, vaccine efficaciousness and the cost-benefit of each vaccine

Just because there is a vaccine on the market to prevent or reduce disease risk, that doesn’t mean that you need to use it in your herd, unless it is a core vaccine and proven effective and safe. Base your vaccination decisions on sound, objective scientific data. Weigh the pros and cons of vaccination for […] Read more