CME February 2023 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle up on firm cash, speculative buying

February lean hogs end lower

Chicago | Reuters — Live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) hit the highest in nearly three weeks on Friday, supported by firm cash cattle markets and what appeared to be speculative buying, analysts said. Most-active CME February live cattle futures settled up 0.45 cent at 155.85 cents/lb. after reaching 156.125 cents, the […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feed weekly outlook: More corn, oats in feed rations

'Very weird situation to be seeing again'

MarketsFarm — As prices for feed barley and wheat increase, more feedlots are turning to corn, according to Susanne Leclerc of Market Master Ltd. at Edmonton. “A lot of places are switching to corn. The desirability of feed barley has been coming down,” she said. “So it will be interesting to see which way the […] Read more


The Canadian barley crop is significantly larger than last year.

Feed barley market strengthens

Market Talk with Jerry Klassen

Statistics Canada’s August model-based crop estimate came in at 9.4 million tonnes, up from the 2021 output of seven million tonnes and up marginally from the five-year average of 9.2 million tonnes. Supplies are sharply higher than last year but the domestic feed market has rallied nearly $60/tonne from the pre-harvest lows. What is going […] Read more

(WPohlDesign/iStock/Getty Images)

Klassen: Tighter supplies underpin western Canadian feeder market

Weather conditions may sway buying interest

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were unchanged to $4 higher. Heavier calves notched a week-over-week gain of $2-$4. Mid-weight and lighter calves traded steady to $5 lower in Alberta but $4-$5 on either side of unchanged in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Yearling numbers were limited and buyers paid up for quality packages while […] Read more


Photo: File

Feed weekly outlook: Tight logistics underpinning Prairie feed market

MarketsFarm – Canada’s barley crop may have improved considerably in 2022 compared to 2021’s drought-stricken crop, but the logistics of getting that grain to Alberta’s feedlot alley are keeping prices well supported. Canada grew 9.4 million tonnes of barley during the 2022 growing season, which was up by 35 per cent from the previous year. […] Read more

Maximizing growth while limiting digestive disorder can make wheat grain a profitable addition to feedlot diets.

Optimizing wheat grain use in feedlot diets

Researchers explore whether processing wheat can reduce its potential to cause digestive upsets, and allow feedlots to use this high-protein, high-energy feed

Wheat is notorious for being a highly fermentable cereal grain and its inclusion in finishing feedlot diets is often restricted to avoid digestive disorders such as rumen acidosis and bloat. Adverse growing conditions frequently result in wheat grain with elevated mycotoxin levels that fail to meet the standard for human consumption. But such wheat may […] Read more


Corn west of Mitchell, Man. on Oct. 17, 2018. (Dave Bedard photo)

Feed weekly outlook: Corn imports pressure grain prices in Lethbridge

MarketsFarm — With harvesting operations winding down, high-delivered bids for feed barley and wheat in Alberta are higher compared to the same time last month and last year. However, there is still some volatility in feed grain prices, according to one Lethbridge-based trader. “I think most (of the increase) was (due to) demand, but as […] Read more

File photo of cattle on feed near Champion, Alta., about 75 km north of Lethbridge. (James_Gabbert/iStock/Getty Images)

Klassen: Uncertain fed cattle market weighs on feeder cattle

U.S. feeder demand seen relatively sluggish

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearlings (900 lbs. and over) appeared to trade $6-$8 lower on average; yearlings weighing 800-900 lbs. off grass were unchanged. Backgrounded yearlings were also $6-$8 lower. Mid-weight calves were unchanged but calves under 600 lbs. were $3 to as much as $10 lower in some cases. Feedlot operators pulled […] Read more



Barley. (Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feed weekly outlook: Barley values steady, wheat rises

MarketsFarm — As the harvest across most of the Prairies begins to wind down, price movement for feed barley has remained fairly stable, according to Erin Harakal, senior trader for Agfinity at Stony Plain, Alta. “October is getting covered is what’s happening. There’s not too much room left for October,” Harakal said, noting the midway […] Read more