(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder cattle steady but demand remains sluggish

Western Canadian feeder cattle prices traded in line with week-ago levels on average, though the market was quite variable across the Prairies. Favourable temperatures in southern Alberta enhanced demand on all weight categories, especially on grassers from 500 to 650 lbs. Higher-quality backgrounded cattle were also $4-$8 higher in certain cases in Alberta. In Saskatchewan



(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle close mixed

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures closed mixed on Monday, helped by last Friday’s steady-to-better cash prices but pressured by profit-taking on the last trading day of the month, traders said. The February contract, which expired on Monday at noon CT, closed up 1.95 cents/lb. at 139.5 cents (all figures US$).





(Canada Beef Inc. photo)

U.S. livestock: Brisk beef demand pushes CME live cattle higher

Chicago | Reuters –– Most Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle contracts rose on Wednesday, driven by upward-trending wholesale beef values that may underpin prices for market-ready, or cash, cattle by Friday, traders said. Thinly-traded spot February, which will expire on Feb. 29, closed down 0.025 cent/lb. to 136.975 cents (all figures US$). April ended 0.65




(Canada Beef Inc. photo)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle move higher with beef prices

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle contracts settled higher on Monday, buoyed by the morning’s wholesale beef price turnaround, traders said. Buy stops and fund buying contributed to CME live cattle futures advances, they said. February closed 1.05 cents/lb. higher at 136.425 (all figures US$). April ended at 134.625 cents, up 0.675