(Regis Lefebure photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Chinese demand seen eating into pork supply glut

CNS Canada –– Canadian pork producers have seen increased demand from China in recent weeks, which could boost prices in coming months. Despite turbulence in the China’s economy, an industry specialist says exports should be little affected. Pork prices are sensitive to economic change to an extent, but not as much as non-food markets, said […] Read more



CCA Report: Drought concerns and trade talks

CCA Report: Drought concerns and trade talks

From the August 2015 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

It’s been a busy summer for the Canadian Cattlemen Association (CCA), with plenty of activity on a number of ongoing files. CCA officials were in Charlottetown, P.E.I., for the annual July meeting of the federal, provincial and territorial ministers of agriculture, where workforce issues, social licence and the extreme dry conditions in pockets of Alberta […] Read more



(Canada Beef Inc. photo)

U.S. livestock: Economic fears slam CME live cattle, hogs

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures closed sharply lower on Friday as global economic turmoil sparked fears of a U.S. meat export slowdown, traders and analysts said. Spot-August futures closed 1.05 cents/lb. lower at 145.425 cents, and October 2.475 cents lower at 143.85 cents (all figures US$). “The elephant in the […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle rise with cash bids

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures closed higher on Thursday, supported by short-covering after packers hiked bids for unsold market-ready (cash) cattle, traders said. Spot-August futures closed 1.225 cents/lb. higher at 146.475 cents, and October 1.175 cents higher at 146.325 cents (all figures US$). Processors in Kansas and Texas on Thursday […] Read more

Ryan and Carolyn Copithorne of Jumping Pound, Alta.

Ready to hire a marketing specialist for your calves?

Ryan Copithorne is betting you are.

A typical marketing plan for many cow-calf producers revolves around hoping to hit a run of good prices when they sell calves, yearlings and cull cows after preg-checking. If the stars don’t align to bring all of the variables together in their favour on sale day — weather conditions for roundup, trucking arrangements, market forces […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: Fallen cash prices rattle CME live cattle

Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures suffered their fourth straight day of losses on Wednesday after digesting sharply lower preliminary prices for market-ready (cash) cattle, traders said. Spot-August futures closed down 1.95 cents/lb. to 145.25 cents, and October 2.25 cents lower at 145.15 cents (all figures US$). Earlier on Wednesday, a […] Read more

(Scott Bauer photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

USDA moves to build vaccine stockpile for bird flu return

Chicago | Reuters — The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Tuesday it has put out a request for proposals to help the nation’s veterinarians have access to bird flu vaccines for poultry this fall, in preparation for the potential return of the fast-spreading avian influenza virus. The agency’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) […] Read more