The feed barley market has been relatively flat throughout the winter. During the last week of January, Lethbridge-area feedlots were buying feed barley in the range of $255/mt to $260/mt delivered. At the same time, central Alberta feedlots were making purchases from $245/mt to $250/mt. Barley stocks are projected to drop to historical lows by […] Read more
Feed barley update
Market Talk with Jerry Klassen
Klassen: Feeder market sends mixed signals
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets were steady to $4 lower while calves were steady to $2 higher. Barley prices have jumped $3-$6 per tonne over the past week, with winter conditions hindering off-farm logistics. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle in the range of $149-$150 last week; however, in Nebraska, fed cattle […] Read more
Klassen: Winter conditions weigh on feeder market
Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were relatively unchanged from week-ago levels. The major feeding regions from Alberta to the U.S. Midwest and southern Plains have all experienced severe storms and extreme temperatures. The forecast for southern Alberta calls for lows of -25 to -32 C over the next seven days. Auction markets have a few […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle succumb to negative margins
Alberta fed cattle prices have dropped nearly $15 over the past three weeks. Feedlot margins are deep in red ink, with losses amounting to $200-250 per head. Compared to last week, yearlings and calves over 700 lbs. traded $3-$5 lower; calves under 700 lbs. were down $5-$8 with some feeder markets in Alberta dropping as […] Read more
Feeder cattle market digesting many variables
Market Talk with Jerry Klassen
The feeder cattle market was quite volatile throughout the final quarter of 2018. The weaker Canadian dollar enhanced demand from south of the border. At the same time, domestic feedlot operators were contending with rising feed grain prices and uncertain fed cattle prices for the first and second quarters of 2019. April live cattle futures […] Read more
Klassen: Fed cattle weakness pressures yearlings
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearlings and calves over 700 lbs. traded steady to $3 lower on average. Weakness in the fed cattle market weighed on the heavier replacements. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle at $155 on a live basis, down $7 from the highs seven days earlier. Barley prices were up $3-$5 […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market easily absorbs adverse weather
Western Canadian feeder markets were relatively unchanged from week-ago levels but there were a couple of unique characteristics in certain regions. Quality yearling packages were $2-$4 higher in Alberta but fleshier replacements were discounted. Eastern Prairie regions had grass cattle under 600 lbs. trading $3 to as much as $8 above week-ago levels. Order buyers […] Read more
Klassen: Fed cattle market lifts feeder prices
Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $4 on either side of unchanged. Early in the week, the market was rather sluggish but a fortuitous bounce in the live cattle futures quickly spilled over into the feeder complex. Yearlings and heavier calves ended the week $2 to $4 higher. Feeding margins are […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market starts year with cautious tone
Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were relatively unchanged to slightly softer compared to mid-December. The market was lightly tested, with direct off farm to feedlot trade, but auction market activity was rather quiet. Winter conditions in southern Alberta caused buyers to be on the defensive, with lighter calves reflecting small discounts; however, vaccinated feeders on […] Read more
Canadian dollar outlook
Market Talk with Jerry Klassen
The Canadian dollar has been trading near 52-week lows, supporting fed and feeder cattle prices. Canadian year-to-date feeder cattle exports to the U.S. for the week ending November 10 were 175,122 head, up a whopping 59 per cent over year-ago levels. While fed cattle exports to the U.S. are running 19 per cent below last […] Read more
Canadian Cattlemen Presents: Depth of Field
