Chicago | Reuters — Ranchers placed 11 per cent more cattle in feedlots in April than a year earlier, the most for the month in 14 years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported on Friday, beating average forecasts. Higher cattle prices paid by packers last month enhanced profits for feedlots, allowing them to buy more […] Read more
Tag Archives cattle prices
U.S. April feedlot cattle placements jump to 14-year high
Klassen: Feeder cattle market experiences mixed tone
Western Canadian feeder cattle markets were rather subdued this past week; average prices were unchanged from seven days earlier. However, the bloom has come off the rose as the extreme highs from earlier in May have evaporated. Late in the week, shorter-keep cattle appeared to trade $3-$5 higher, especially on higher-quality larger groups. Major feedlot […] Read more
JBS sees margins up in 2017 as feed, cattle costs fall
Sao Paulo | Reuters — Brazilian meatpacking giant JBS SA expects profit margins to improve over the course of this year, CEO Wesley Batista said on Tuesday, as lower cattle and feed costs and healthier markets ease the pressures that hurt 2016 results. JBS shares rose two per cent in Sao Paulo despite lower-than-expected earnings […] Read more
Falling farm gate prices highlight ‘long overdue’ topic
CNS Canada — Statistics Canada’s latest Farm Product Price Index marks a year of annual declines, predominantly led by the cattle sector. The whims of the market are one source of losses, but two producer group heads say the data call attention to the country’s processing sector. Year-over-year declines in Canada’s Farm Product Price Index […] Read more
Klassen: Healthy margins drive feeder complex
Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded steady to $5 higher compared to week-ago levels. Buyers were quite meticulous on flesh levels and quality features in the heavier weight categories; however, feedlot operators were definitely more aggressive this week. Major operations have liquidated a fair amount of fed cattle and these players are anxious to reload […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle drop on cautious feedlot demand
Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $3 to as much as $8 below week-ago levels as feedlot managers anticipate growing beef supplies during the late spring and summer. Heavier weight categories absorbed the brunt of the selling pressure, with backgrounding operators liquidating fall-placed calves. Certain groups of higher-quality heifers held value with the purpose of […] Read more
Klassen: Tenacious feeder market softens on supply forecasts
Western Canadian feeder cattle prices traded steady to as much as $5 lower over the past week. Early in the week, buyers incorporated a risk discount due to the extremely cold temperatures, especially in the Eastern prairie regions. By Thursday, markets were factoring in the larger beef supply forecasts from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle markets digest USDA inventory report
Western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $5 higher to as much as $10 lower compared to week-ago levels. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Cattle on Feed report, along with U.S. inventory data, confirmed larger beef supplies in upcoming months, which set a negative sentiment amongst feedlot operators. Auction markets experienced variable price ranges on similar-weight […] Read more
Klassen: Fed cattle uncertainty restricts upside in feeders
Western Canadian feeder cattle were actively trading $3-$5 higher compared to week-ago levels. Order buyers felt like they were groping in the dark but realized there was a fair amount of buying interest by the week’s end. Alberta and Ontario orders were floating aggressively into Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan, which kept the market flat across […] Read more
Klassen: Positive margins support feeder cattle market
Alberta packers were buying fed cattle at $150 this past week, which was $5 above breakeven pen closeout values. This rally in the fed cattle market was a long time coming and renewed optimism surged across the Prairies. Feeder cattle prices traded $3-$5 above week-ago levels, with lighter calves leading the charge higher. Fierce competition […] Read more
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