(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder cattle trade at 52-week highs

New-crop feed grain values under pressure

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearlings traded steady to $2 higher with exceptional demand noted on steers over 700 pounds. Calf values were mixed in Alberta with markets trading $2-$4 on either side of unchanged; however, prices were steady to $4 higher in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Small groups of various quality characterized the feeder […] Read more

How to start rotational grazing

How to start rotational grazing

The best recommendations are those that fit you and your farm

After the drought last year, are you looking for a change for your summer pastures? Switching from a continuous grazing system to one that provides a rest period for the plants is one way to help plants recover from drought, while also helping protect plants during future droughts. A rotational grazing system can provide a […] Read more


An original proposal by Health Canada to label ground beef as high in saturated fat has been shelved.  Photo: Jeff Haynes/Reuters

Health Canada to slap warning labels on sugary, salty and fatty foods

Ottawa | Reuters – Foods high in sugars, sodium and saturated fat will come with clear warning labels in Canada starting in 2026, the federal government said on Thursday, in an effort to promote healthier eating choices and reduce chronic health risks. “We know that it’s not always easy to make healthy choices,” Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos told […] Read more

Photo: Thinkstock

U.S. livestock: Live cattle futures ease ahead of U.S. holiday weekend

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures eased on Wednesday, as packers prep for a short processing week after the Fourth of July holiday in the United States, traders said. Packers’ purchases are expected to slow by the end of the week, to avoid having pens full of animals waiting over the […] Read more


Photo: File

U.S. livestock: Live cattle mixed on seasonal slump, domestic demand worries

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange spot live cattle futures rose on Tuesday, as the northern cash market continued to trade at a record premium over the south amid drought-hit grazing grounds, traders said. But CME’s benchmark August live cattle futures LCQ2 and deferred contracts slipped on worries about the health of the U.S. economy, and […] Read more




U.S. livestock: Hog futures retreat from two-month high; cattle also fall

Chicago | Reuters – CME Group cattle futures fell on Wednesday, as surprise deliveries in Texas showed that cash market supplies were higher than expected, traders said. Hog futures were lower, snapping a streak of four straight higher closes as traders locked in profits from the market’s move to a two-month high. CME July lean […] Read more


Kathy Larson, a research associate at the University of Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan representative for the Canadian Cow-Calf Cost of Production Network, presented at the SSGA AGM about the importance of cost of production.

Cost of production network examines economic realities of cow-calf operations

Cost of production was a hot topic at the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association annual general meeting in early June. Kathy Larson, a research associate at the University of Saskatchewan, presented on cost of production to the conference goers. Specifically, she spoke about the Canadian Cow-Calf Cost of Production Network, led by a research team at […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Barley price forecasts enhance feeder cattle demand

Recent rains nearly guarantee at least average yields

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were relatively unchanged. Heifer and steer calves were quoted steady to $3 lower on average but the market was harder to define due to limited numbers. Small packages of calves of various quality resulted in the wide-ranging price structure. Buying interest for grassers appears to have subsided. […] Read more