cattle in a feedlot

Livestock traceability in the spotlight

Traceability Symposium coming to Calgary, Nov. 2–3

The Canadian Cattle Identification Agency will hold the inaugural Traceability Symposium 2016 in Calgary on Nov. 2-3. The two-day event will address traceability’s role; regulations and compliance; challenges and solutions; other assurance systems; and lessons learned. It is expected to draw attendees from Canada, United States, European Union, Australia and New Zealand. Well-known food expert […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: Feeder cattle gains continue as corn declines

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. cattle futures extended gains on Tuesday, with feeder cattle rising to their highest in 1-1/2 months as falling corn prices reduced costs for fattening the animals and enticed buying from investors, traders said. Optimism that slaughter-weight cattle would fetch higher prices in U.S. Plains cash markets this week also buoyed […] Read more


Cow chewing hay

Get hail-damaged crops tested before feeding to livestock

Doing a feed test ‘is much cheaper than losing an animal,’ says beef extension specialist

Hail damage this summer on the Prairie provinces is approaching an all-time high — and with many producers putting livestock on their ruined fields, the risk of nitrate poisoning is also shooting up. So be sure to do a feed test first, said a beef extension specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. “A feed test […] Read more

Saputo’s Canadian dairy division includes brands such as Dairyland, Neilson, Nutrilait, Baxter and Armstrong. (Dave Bedard photo)

Saputo profit jumps, dividend raised

Reuters — Saputo Inc., one of Canada’s largest dairy producers, reported on Tuesday a 30 per cent jump in net earnings and boosted its quarterly dividend by 11 per cent. For Saputo’s fiscal 2017 first quarter, net income rose to $176.7 million, or 44 cents a share, from $136.4 million, or 34 cents, in the […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder cattle market seeking stability

Western Canadian feeder cattle prices continued on a downward trajectory trading $3-$5 below week-ago levels. Erratic buying interest resulted in inconsistent price action across the Prairies which made the market difficult to define. Smaller groups of various quality cattle were on offer, justifying the softer tone, but feedlot operators demonstrated unwavering fortitude even on genetically […] Read more

(Canada Beef Inc. photo)

U.S. opens up to Brazil fresh beef imports

Brasilia | Reuters –– The U.S. and Brazilian governments exchanged food safety equivalence documents on Monday that will open up their respective markets to fresh beef exports, a window expected to boost Brazil’s exports to the U.S. by US$900 million. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said its Food Safety and Inspection Service had determined that […] Read more



Canada’s Maple Leaf Foods profit beats estimates

Canadian meat processor Maple Leaf Foods reported a quarterly profit that squeezed past estimates as lower operating costs and increased pricing more than offset a fall in volumes in its meat products business. The company, whose brands include Schneiders and namesake Maple Leaf, recently completed a program started in 2010 to boost earnings by shutting […] Read more


U.S. livestock: CME hogs settle mostly weak on month-end positioning

Chicago / Reuters – Most Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog contracts closed weaker on Friday, after a volatile session highlighted by  investors squaring positions on the final trading day of the month, trader said. August hogs finished up 0.125 cent per lb to 68.975 cents. October ended 0.150 cent per lb lower at 59.050 cents and December down 0.075 cent to […] Read more