September spells serious slump

September spells serious slump

Prime Cuts with Steve Kay from the October 2016 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

U.S. cattle feeders might be excused for believing there is a curse on the September market. Feeders endured a historic collapse in live cattle prices in September last year, when cash prices fell more than US$27 per cwt in five weeks. Now prices have suffered another collapse, starting in mid-August, which showed no sign of […] Read more

(USDA.gov via Flickr)

USDA requires meat packers to report online cattle auction deals

Chicago | Reuters –– The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Thursday it will require meat packers to report cattle purchases they make through online auctions to the agency starting next week, a move that stoked traders’ hopes for more transparent markets. USDA will begin including transactions from auctions on the Fed Cattle Exchange in pricing […] Read more


Consumers’ food spending switch

Prime Cuts with Steve Kay from the September 2016 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

All wealth of the North American beef industry comes from consumers. So how much they spend on beef and where they spend it is of vital interest to all participants, from cow-calf producers to processors and distributors. One of the most striking trends in the U.S. protein complex this year is how lower beef prices […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder market stabilizes

Western Canadian feeder cattle prices traded steady to $5 higher over the past week largely due to stronger U.S cattle markets. Alberta packers were relatively quiet but fed cattle prices in the U.S. southern Plains jumped US$5, reaching US$110. This sudden reversal caused Canadian feedlot operators to hold out for higher prices and the positive […] Read more



(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder market softens

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, goes the old proverb, and there is no greater example than in the cattle complex. Placid feedlot operators watched in dismay as fed cattle sold in the range of $133-$135 this past week, down approximately $6 from week-ago levels and $10 below breakeven pen closeout values. The stomach-churning fed […] 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