(Dave Bedard photo)

Maple Leaf Q3 profit beats on overall sales growth

Reuters — Maple Leaf Foods, one of Canada’s biggest pork processors, posted a quarterly profit that beat analysts’ estimates, helped by growth across all its businesses. The company, whose brands include Schneiders, Maple Leaf and, since March, Lightlife, said adjusted operating earnings rose to $65.15 million in the third quarter from $61.52 million a year […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle hit three-month high

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures reached their highest level in nearly three months on Thursday, fueled by short-covering and renewed optimism for this week’s cash prices, said traders. October live cattle, which will expire on Oct. 31, finished 1.125 cents/lb. higher at 114.15 cents (all figures US$). Most actively traded […] Read more


(MGC.com.au)

Saputo to buy Australian dairy co-op Murray Goulburn

Reuters — Murray Goulburn Co-operative, Australia’s largest milk processor, on Friday said it agreed to a buyout from Canadian dairy company Saputo worth up to A$637.8 million (C$627.5 million). Murray Goulburn (MG) said Saputo would pay between A$1.10-$1.15 per share, compared to its A$2.10 issue price when it listed in 2015. A total buyout value […] Read more

(Gloria Solano-Aguilar photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

U.S. livestock: CME hogs rise on firmer cash, pork prices

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures closed higher on Wednesday, helped by modest cash and wholesale pork price gains, said traders. Investors unwound some of Tuesday’s long CME live cattle short lean hog spreads that, along with buy stops and speculative buying, sent some deferred hog contracts to new highs. December […] Read more


Putting a value on forages

Putting a value on forages

A new project by the Canadian Forage and Grassland Association will establish protocols for high-performance forage management

With over 70 million acres of dedicated Canadian cropland and a direct economic value of $5.09 billion, forages are the country’s third-largest crop, just behind wheat valued at $5.2 billion and canola at $7.3 billion. There’s no doubt forages are good for the economy. Perennial forages play an environmental role with the ability to reduce […] Read more

Preg-checking scorecard for cow-calf producers

Preg-checking scorecard for cow-calf producers

Vet Advice with Dr. Ron Clarke

Pregnancy checking remains one of the most underutilized management tools in the cow-calf business. Overlooking the chance to gather herd information as cows come off pasture in the fall is a missed opportunity for the cow-calf producer. A trip through the chute in fall should be much more than determining which cows to keep and […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: Cash price optimism buoys CME live cattle

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle closed sharply higher on Tuesday, spurred by short-covering in anticipation of steady-to-better cash prices later this week, said traders. Fund buying contributed to advances after some contracts topped technical resistance levels on their way to new highs. October live cattle, which will expire on Oct. 31, […] Read more

James Hargrave (second from right) in September 2016 with provincial Agriculture Minister Oneil Carlier, Medicine Hat MLA Bob Wanner and Environment Minister Shannon Phillips. (AlbertaGrazingLease.ca)

Communities rally around producers in wildfires’ wake

Ranchers, farmers and rural residents who suffered losses, injuries and more in recent wildfires in southeastern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan are seeing support from neighbours and beyond. Alongside a number of online campaigns launched in support of affected farmers and families, the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association on Monday launched a wildfire relief fund to help […] Read more


(Canada Beef Inc. photo)

Klassen: Feeder cattle market loses momentum

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were unchanged while calves traded $3 lower to $3 higher. Feedlot operators pulled in the reins and realized the market may have overextended itself. Feeder cattle prices are now at levels where margins are negative in the deferred positions. Order buyers could feel the momentum subside this […] Read more

Comment: Take the long view on CETA

As our Oct. 23 issue of Canadian Cattlemen arrives in your mailbox the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between Canada and the European Union will have been in force for about a month. Not much has happened since it came into force on September 21, at least as far as the beef industry is […] Read more