(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder prices ratchet higher

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $3-$5 higher on average; however, there were a few feature sales quoted $8 to as much as $10 above week-ago levels. Finishing feedlots were fairly aggressive on backgrounded cattle, which was the main source of yearlings last week. Early grassers are starting to come on the […] Read more

(File photo)

Feed weekly outlook: Prices fall with rain

Feed grain prices for Lethbridge’s feedlot alley took a tumble after parts of the Prairies received some much-needed rain. Jim Beusekom, president of Market Place Commodities in Lethbridge, said barley and wheat prices recently dropped. Barley was around $285-$290 per tonne in the area, down about $10 from the week ending June 21. Wheat was […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder market shrugs off feed grain rally

Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle prices were $2-$5 higher on average. Noted strength was in the 700-plus-lb. categories, which spilt over into the lighter calves. Quality groups of yearlings were limited and the scarcity fear factor had a grip on the market. The U.S. Department of Agriculture lowered its fourth-quarter beef production […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder market finds support

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded steady to $2 lower while calves traded $3 higher to as much as $8 lower. Adverse weather across much of the U.S. Midwest set a negative tone on both sides of the border. U.S. feeder cattle markets were down US$3-$6 from seven days earlier. Corn futures […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder market continues to soften

Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $3-$5 lower on average with some auctions down $5 to as much as $8. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis at $258 delivered, down $15 from the April highs. Feeding margins have slid into negative territory quite rapidly and could be […] Read more


(File photo by Dave Bedard)

Walmart creating own Angus beef supply chain

Reuters — Walmart Inc. is taking control of the supply chain for Angus beef sold in some of its stores, cutting out meat processors as the company looks to offer higher quality products in an intensely competitive grocery industry. The world’s largest retailer said Wednesday the move would allow it to ensure supplies of quality […] Read more


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

Klassen: Feeder market remains volatile

Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $3-$5 on either side of unchanged. Many auction barns were closed last week and the ones holding sales had smaller numbers. Quality packages of yearlings were on the higher end of the range while smaller groups of fleshier replacements were discounted. Alberta feedlots were focusing […] Read more

Barley. (Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feed weekly outlook: Barley acreage buoyed despite current prices

MarketsFarm — International demand for Canadian feed barley has been strong thanks to a 2018 growing season drought in Australia that limited exportable supplies. China purchased nearly 950,000 tonnes of Canadian barley in the first seven months of the 2018-19 year, significantly above the five-year average. However, feed markets in general are quite sluggish ahead […] Read more