(CMEGroup.com)

U.S. livestock: Speculative buying rallies CME live cattle

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle finished higher on Monday, buoyed by speculation that cash and wholesale beef prices may bottom out soon, traders said. June closed up 0.65 cent per pound to 153.475 cents, and August 1.025 cent higher at 151.6 cents (all figures US$). Monday morning’s wholesale choice beef (cutout) […] Read more



Quebec Agriculture Minister Pierre Paradis. (MAPAQ.gouv.qc.ca)

Quebec plans new legal status for animals

Quebec’s agriculture minister has tabled a new provincial government bill to raise the legal status of domestic and farmed animals in the province beyond that of “furniture.” Pierre Paradis on Friday introduced Bill 54 in the provincial assembly, with the stated goal of enshrining animals in Quebec’s Civil Code as sentient beings — that is, feeling and […] Read more

(Canada Beef Inc. photo)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle slump with beef prices, but off lows

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle ended lower on Friday, pressured by profit-taking and a wholesale beef price reversal after Thursday’s spike, traders said. Futures remained undervalued based on this week’s cash price expectations, which stirred late-session buying that freed contracts from session lows. June closed down 0.4 cent per pound, to […] Read more


aerial drone

Drones can give cattle producers a new perspective on herd management

Infrared cameras on UAVs are being tested to detect differences in body temperature of animals

Unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly referred to as drones, are part of a growing trend toward precision agriculture: using technology to reduce costs and maximize yields. Dr. John Church from Thompson Rivers University (TRU) is leading the way in developing applications for the technology in the cattle sector. “Drone technology has real potential as a tool […] Read more

(WTO.org)

WTO booked to hear Canada’s COOL tariff case

The World Trade Organization’s Dispute Settlement Body is set to hear Canada’s request in just under two weeks for revenge against the U.S. over country-of-origin labelling (COOL). Canada on Thursday filed its request for authorization of retaliatory tariffs, to be considered at a DSB meeting on June 17, the federal government said. Barring a repeal […] Read more


(Canada Beef Inc. photo)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle jump on beef price turnaround

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures gained on Thursday on short-covering after wholesale beef values turned higher, traders said. June closed up 0.725 cent per pound, to 153.225 cents, and August 0.825 cent higher at 151.45 cents (all figures US$). Thursday morning’s choice wholesale beef price, cutout, rose $1.23 per hundredweight […] Read more

cattle in a feedlot

Beef Watch: Canadian cattle inventories decline, U.S. herds expanding

Beef Watch is prepared by the staff of Canfax and Canfax Research Services, divisions of the Canadian Cattlemen's Association

While U.S. herd expansion is underway, the Canadian beef cattle herd remains in the consolidation phase. Cow-calf and feedlot profitability improved significantly in 2014 with record cattle prices, lower feed costs and strong beef demand, but risk factors such as weather conditions, input costs and competition from pork and poultry need to be closely watched […] Read more