Driving profit through cattle genetics on the ranch

Driving profit through cattle genetics on the ranch

Breeding: News Roundup from the March 2021 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

It has been said that it is getting harder and harder to make money in the cattle business. Expenses too often outweigh revenue, resulting in limited profit potential. Whether you agree or not, many ranchers are cautious about making additional investments to their management systems. To many, it feels as though mounting demands on how […] Read more



CME April 2021 lean hogs with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Lean hogs climb as pork prices rise, slaughter pace slows

Cattle futures anticipate grilling season

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) lean hog futures rose on Tuesday for a second straight day, supported by rising wholesale pork prices and a smaller weekly kill than a year ago, traders said. CME April lean hog futures ended up 1.05 cents at 88.35 cents/lb., moving back up toward a life-of-contract high […] Read more



CME June 2021 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle, hogs firm as U.S. stimulus plan fuels optimism

Relief bill expected to lift meat demand

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) live cattle futures firmed on Monday, recovering from a seven-week low hit last week, on optimism that the US$1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill will spur the U.S. economy and bolster demand for meat, traders said. CME April live cattle futures settled up 0.325 cent at 119.35 cents/lb., […] Read more

Cattle in the field on a January day.

Milk fever in beef cows

Veterinary Case Study with Dr. Ron Clarke

Matt called early on January 1, 1975, worried about a downer cow on a field of swathed barley damaged by hail in July of the previous summer. Matt let the crop volunteer through the growing season with plans to swath it near the end of harvest as winter graze for his herd of 200 Hereford-cross […] Read more


File photo of hogs in transit near Red Deer, Alta. (Stefonlinton/iStock/Getty Images)

Alberta hog farmers to get set-aside via AgriRecovery

Producers get funds for feeding held-back market hogs

An AgriRecovery plan announced Friday is set to pay eligible Alberta farmers 95 cents per day per market-ready hog toward the animals’ upkeep during the shutdown of the province’s biggest hog slaughter plant. Olymel, the meat packing arm of Sollio Co-operative, reopened its plant at Red Deer this week after announcing Feb. 15 it would […] Read more

CME April 2021 lean hogs with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hog futures take a breather

April live cattle up, but well down off highs

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) lean hog futures consolidated on Friday as the market caught its breath after pulling back from contract highs reached last week. Strong demand for U.S. pork from China recently supported hog futures, as China is battling the fatal pig disease African swine fever, which increased its need […] Read more


Alberta fed cattle market outlook

Alberta fed cattle market outlook

Market Talk with Jerry Klassen

Alberta packers were buying fed cattle in the range of $150 to $152 FOB the feedlot during the last week of January. This compares to average values of $136 to $138 FOB the feedlot during the month of December. While prices have stabilized for the time being, there is a fair amount of uncertainty moving […] Read more

CME April 2021 lean hogs with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Pork export sales rise, profit-taking hits hog futures

Cattle futures down while beef exports up

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures ended lower on Thursday as profit-taking overshadowed strong U.S. export demand, analysts said. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, in a weekly report, said weekly net U.S. pork export sales were 59,600 tonnes for 2021, up 68 per cent from the prior four-week average. Weekly export […] Read more