For the week ending May 10, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded steady to $5 higher on average. Quality packages of lighter calves were priced $10-$15 above week ago levels. Many auction barns are only holding sales every two or three weeks at this time of year with limited numbers on offer. This made the market hard to define in certain weight categories.
Klassen: Feedlot operators become cautious on purchases
Tight supplies and weather risks driving North American corn, soybean markets higher
Wheat markets brace for global harvest; U.S. crop may have quality concerns
The corn and soybean futures markets are incorporating a risk premium due to the uncertainty in production. Seasonally, the row-crops experience a rally during the planting period until acreage and weather is more certain.
Klassen: Feeder market consolidates as supplies decrease
For the week ending May 2, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets were relatively unchanged compared to seven days earlier. The heifer discount to steers continues to narrow. Steady buying interest from Ontario was noted in Manitoba and certain locations in Saskatchewan.
Klassen: Higher packer bids enhance feeder complex
For the week ending April 26, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $3 to $5 higher compared to seven days earlier.
Chinese influence is alternating trade flows for wheat
Unlike the U.S., China has not imposed tariffs on developing countries in the global south, cementing its position as the trade leader for these countries
China has a strategic long term plan when it comes to the trade war. The top 20 developing countries in the world are in the global south. This includes the Middle East, North Africa, Asia Pacific and sub-Sahara Africa. Last year, China announced zero tariffs on these developing countries in the global south which cemented its position as the trade leader for these countries. You guessed it, these regions are all major wheat importers and with the Chinese influence, they are not looking at the U.S. any longer for food security.
Klassen: Fall fed cattle supply concerns strengthen feeder complex
For the week ending April 19, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $2 to $3 above week-ago levels. Many auction barns did not have sales due to Good Friday but sale volumes were also smaller at active locations.
Klassen: Feeder market returns to historical highs
For the week ending April 12, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded stead to as much as $10 higher compared to seven days earlier. The market has fully recovered from U.S. tariff uncertainty. Strength in the fed cattle market and healthy feeding margins continue drive replacement prices upward.
Klassen: Feeder market experiences volatility during U.S. tariff week
During the week ending April 5, the feeder market felt sluggish early in the week. Prices were a bit softer on Monday and by Wednesday morning, quoted values were $10 to as much $20 below week ago levels. After making weekly lows Wednesday, prices fully recovered to the previous week’s levels.
Klassen: Healthy feedlot margins supports feeder complex
For the week ending March 29, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $5/cwt lower to $5/cwt higher compared to seven days earlier. The price structure was largely determined by the crowd's mindset regarding potential U.S. tariffs.
Klassen: Feeder cattle follow live cattle futures higher
For the week ending March 22, Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded steady to $5 higher on average. Higher quality strings under 600 pounds traded $5 to as much as $10 higher in some cases but the lighter weight categories were quite variable across the Prairies.