One of the first steps to consider when choosing an implant is deciding on how aggressive you want to be with your program.

Choosing the right implant for feedlot cattle

Nutrition with John McKinnon

In last month’s column, I covered the various classes of implants currently on the market and traced the development of the technology over the last 50 years or so. With this column, I want to look at some of the factors to consider when choosing an implant for feedlot cattle, with emphasis on the class […] Read more

CME December 2020 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Live cattle futures jump on tightening supplies

Lower wholesale pork values drag on hogs

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures closed higher on Thursday on expectations that tight cattle supplies and rising demand for beef will buoy cash cattle markets, analysts said. Cash cattle traded lightly in the southern Plains this week at $106/cwt, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported, even with last week (all figures US$). […] Read more


CME December 2020 lean hogs, with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Lean hogs fall on declining wholesale pork prices

Steady beef demand lifts cattle futures

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures fell on Wednesday on weaker wholesale pork prices, while cattle futures advanced on steady beef demand, traders said. The U.S. pork cutout, an indication of wholesale pork prices, fell by $4.31, to $84.52/cwt, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (all figures US$). Prices eased for pork […] Read more

The proposed changes to business risk management programs are a step in the right direction, writes Martin Unrau.

CCA reports: Trade access, livestock price insurance and AgriStability

From the October 2020 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

As we look back on the past seven months, we have learned many important lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, identified areas where enhancements are needed, and how we can strengthen the resiliency within our industry as well as help support the economic hardships facing our country. Economic Development Canada identified agriculture, specifically through exports, as […] Read more


CME December 2020 live cattle with Bollinger bands (20,2) and 100-day moving average (brown line). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Live cattle rebound as trade adjusts to supply shock

Hogs lower, cash market supportive

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures rebounded on Tuesday, as packers kept processing at a higher-than-usual pace, despite a bearish Cattle on Feed report, traders said. Meanwhile, hog futures eased slightly on Tuesday, as falling cutout prices have carved into packer margins, traders said. CME December live cattle futures gained 0.65 cent to […] Read more

CME December 2020 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Live cattle hit lowest price since June under supply pressure

December lean hogs close up off recent low

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures fell on Monday, with the most-active contract touching its lowest price since June under pressure from a larger-than-expected number of cattle on feed in the United States, traders said. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, in a monthly report issued after the markets closed on Friday, said 11.7 […] Read more


CME December 2020 live cattle (candlesticks) and January 2021 feeder cattle (red line). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hog, live cattle futures up on bargain buying

USDA Cattle on Feed data tops expectations

Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog and live cattle futures rose on Friday on some bargain buying ahead of the weekend. Hog futures snapped a three-session losing streak, the longest for the December contract in five weeks, while live cattle rebounded from its lowest since June 29. CME December lean hogs rose […] Read more

CME December 2020 lean hogs with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hog futures fall for third day in a row

USDA report expected to show more cattle on feed

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures fell for the third day in a row on Thursday, with traders saying they expected the recent surge of Chinese demand for pork to fade as the world’s top consumer rebuilds its decimated hog herd. “I increasingly see more attention paid to deteriorating long-term export […] Read more


CME January 2021 feeder cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures mixed

CME lean hog futures ease

Chicago | Reuters — CME live cattle futures eased on Wednesday, retreating back toward seven-week lows hit on Monday after a bargain buying bounce fizzled as plentiful supplies remained the focus of investors. Feeder cattle futures were slightly higher following the front-month contract’s decline to its lowest since July 1 on Tuesday. “The cattle are […] Read more

Cattle-on-feed numbers in Alberta and Saskatchewan totalled 772,889 head on September 1.

McMillin: Cattle-on-feed numbers above year-ago levels

The Markets with Deb McMillin, from the October 2020 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Fed cattle Fed cattle prices held mostly steady in September, with a sideways trading range of $133/cwt to $134/cwt. The week ending September 25 saw fed cattle prices average $134.01/cwt; however, cattle were purchased with a longer pickup time and buyers were less aggressive, leaving the market slightly softer as September ended. Increased carcass weights […] Read more