(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder market looks upward

Quality of available cattle contributes to volatility

Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were quite variable. Compared to three weeks ago, Alberta prices were steady to $2/cwt higher while in Saskatchewan, prices were $8-$10/cwt higher on average with lighter-weight cattle jumping as much as $15. For example, in central Alberta, higher-quality 800-lb. steers were trading from $230 to $235 and 600-pounders were valued […] Read more


Albert Cousineau, a hoof trimmer for 42 years, marked his final cow with a photo of them sporting matching Montreal Canadiens toques.

The Hoof Trimmer hangs up his grinder, capping a 42-year career

Albert Cousineau has trimmed the hoofs of more than 200,000 cows

Albert Cousineau’s career as a hoof trimmer spans 42 years, two provinces, three farming generations of clients and more than 200,000 cows. On Dec. 7, he hung up his grinder after trimming his final cow. “When I started trimming in northwestern Quebec, the farm I went to on Tuesday was the very first farm I […] Read more

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

U.S. livestock: CME lean hogs extend slide to three-month low

Cattle also lower; "no urgency in this market right now"

Chicago | Reuters — CME lean hog futures sank to a three-month low and closed weaker for the seventh consecutive session on Friday on concerns about weak demand, brokers said. An increase in hog weights also hung over the market, after recent winter storms delayed processing and backed up livestock on farms, brokers said. Pork […] Read more


CME February 2023 lean hogs with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME lean hogs touch three-week low

Most live cattle futures settle lower

Chicago | Reuters — CME lean hog futures set a three-week low on Thursday, under pressure from losses in broader markets and following recent weakness in cash hog prices, analysts said. Feeder cattle futures also ended lower as the market pulled back one day after hitting a September high. Livestock markets took signals from a […] Read more

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

U.S. livestock: CME hogs weaken, cattle rise as winter storms hit

Hogs touch lowest since Dec. 16

Chicago | Reuters — CME lean hog futures fell to their lowest price in more than two weeks on Wednesday and live cattle futures strengthened as snowstorms continued to disrupt livestock operations. Feeder cattle futures reached their highest price since September. Wintry weather in the northern U.S. Plains has delayed livestock shipments, reduced cattle weights […] Read more

On average, farms or ranches of 200 to 300 head running smaller-framed cows appear to be the most profitable.

How does your farm stack up?

Canfax research project provides the industry with benchmark figures

Glacier FarmMedia – Larger beef operations running smaller-framed mature cows tend to be the most profitable combination, according to cost of production (COP) information collected by Canfax Research Services. That’s not an absolute statement. COP information from producers across the country over the past couple of years shows that some smaller operators with various-sized animals […] Read more


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

U.S. livestock: CME cattle, hog futures near two-week lows in broad selloff

Boxed beef values limit losses in cattle

Chicago | Reuters — CME Group livestock futures hit their lowest prices in about two weeks on Tuesday on profit-taking and widespread selling that dragged down commodity and financial markets, analysts said. Traders booked profit in live cattle after the most-active contract reached a fresh high on Thursday, brokers said. Benchmark CME February live cattle […] Read more

Photo: Canada Beef

Klassen: Feeder market to start 2023 on firm tone

Counter-seasonal behaviour expected

There were no market reports last week due to the holiday season; however, I still received a few calls from cattle producers regarding the feeder market outlook for the first quarter of 2023. The feeder market finished 2022 at 52-week highs. Steers averaging 500 lbs. were readily trading over the psychological $300 level while 900-lb. […] Read more