Cattle markets have dropped off their highs from a few weeks ago, but they’re still well ahead of where they were last year at this time. The February live cattle contract, for example, is up 28 percent in the last year. “We’ve had solid markets all the way around,” says Anne Wasko of Gateway Livestock… Read More
Live cattle futures have found reasons to rally since early September, even in the face of large placements in a bearish cattle on feed report last week. It’s a combination of market fundamentals — profitable margins, lower carcass weights, and strong demand — driving the market out of the lows set around Labour Day, says… Read More
There’s a flavour for strong beef demand in the country, says Anne Wasko, market analyst with Gateway Livestock, which has producers feeling good about market positioning. Last week’s slaughter report showed a 6.3 percent increase in animals killed in federally inspected plants in Canada, when compared to last year at this time. It’s good news… Read More
Last week’s Cattle on Feed report, published by the United States Department of Agriculture, listed a 4 percent increase in cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market, when compared to September 1, 2016. In August, placements totalled 1.93 million head, up 3 percent from 2016. “There was a bearish surprise to the placement,”… Read More
A changing supply environment has the second half of 2017 shaping up much differently for cattle markets than the first. “Already things are changing. If you’re in Canada, you’re well aware — and we’ve talked about this all year long — we’ve been in this strong basis environment where Canadian prices, because we’re tight on… Read More
Unfortunately cash dropped again this week which is making things frustrating for cattle feeders. In the last three months the December live cattle future is down 7.22% and is 10.52% off of the highs. Cash dropped another three dollars this week after losing five dollars the week before. On Friday, the the December contract closed… Read More
It’s a tale of two different markets when you look at the Canadian cattle business versus what’s happening in the U.S. where feeders are anticipating a bigger calf crop this fall. Western Canadian feeders are looking at the same kind of numbers in terms of supply as last year, notes Anne Wasko in this latest… Read More
Lower cattle prices due to big supplies, a Canadian dollar up over 80 cents U.S., and drought causing higher feed costs — Canadian cattle feeders are hunkering down as we turn the calendar into August. “If I’m a producer at the other end of the spectrum, as far as a cow-calf producer or grass operator,… Read More
After sliding for the last few weeks, the cattle market clawed back some ground this week, in U.S. dollar terms, at least. As Anne Wasko of Gateway Livestock notes in our latest Beef Market Update, the basis for Canadian cattle values has quietly flipped. “Instead of our cash cattle prices trading above the U.S. equivalent… Read More
With big supplies looming in fall, we’ve seem some huge movement on the cash market for cattle over the last eight weeks. Going back to early May, bids in Alberta topped out at around 190. This week they were in the low 150s, notes Anne Wasko in this latest Beef Market Update with Shaun Haney…. Read More
The cattle market has had more than a few surprises lately. After maintaining momentum to the upside longer than expected, the market saw a quick adjustment to the downside this week, as Anne Wasko highlights in this latest Beef Market Update. “Not that the downtrend wasn’t expected, we’re heading into the summer. We’ve had a… Read More
As the smell of barbecue fills the air in many neighbourhoods, this is normally the time of year when cattle market highs are well behind us. But the market moved against that trend this week, as live and feeder cattle futures, as well as cash prices, climbed higher. In this week’s edition of the Beef… Read More
Two weeks ago we were talking about higher highs and no where to go but down for the cattle market and thats exactly what we got. The market corrected over the past two weeks which could be fine long term technically. What has hurt Canadian feedyards is that the Canadian dollar has rallied over that… Read More
It was a wild and crazy run for the cattle markets this week, and the weekend could be the breather that funds and feedyards need. June live cattle finished the week up 3.45 percent, even with the severe limit down drop on Friday. In the last three months June cattle are up 21.44 percent, which… Read More
The cattle markets have seen two weeks of strong futures gains, which is bringing smiles to the faces of cattle feeders. With carcass weights lower in Canada and the United States, they’re are current and looking to fill empty pens as the cash market rises. The summer of 2016 is still fresh in cattle feeders minds… Read More