North/south split in U.S. cattle trends

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service released the much-anticipated “Cattle” report on Feb. 1. The semi-annual inventory report confirmed what many cattle market observers had expected: The record-setting drought in the southern Plains in 2011 that expanded into much of the country, including the Corn Belt in 2012, caused lower cattle numbers.


U.S. cattle placements fall seventh straight month

Reuters / The number of cattle placed in U.S. feedlots in December fell for a seventh straight month, a government report showed Jan. 25, in a sign of high feed costs continuing to roil the industry after the worst drought in half a century. The decline was against trade expectations for the first monthly increase



Cranking out calves beats backgrounding

Production adviser says operations geared towards low-cost, high-volume calf 
production are better positioned for profits in 2013 than backgrounders

Record-high finishing costs and tight calf supplies mean 2013 will be the “year of the big decision” for ranchers, says production adviser Ray Bittner. “Are you a calf producer or are you a feedlot?” the Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives official asked attendees at the recent Beef and Forage days. Operations that have depended



After beef’s biggest recall: What’s next?

The reopening of the XL beef plant at Brooks is not the end of troubles for the Canadian beef industry

The past two months have seen considerable turmoil in Alberta’s beef sector because of the XL beef recall. Although there has been some relief with the JBS takeover there could still be a long way to go. Canada’s beef sector has been influenced by a number of factors:  Grass. Western Canada’s cow-calf sector grew because



Fall calf volumes lower than last year

Manitoba’s cattle auction yards were busy once again during the week ended November 9, as the fall run continued at full speed. Prices held relatively steady for the most part, although top-end bids for many classes of cattle were mostly lower, rather than higher, in many instances. “We’re at the peak of the fall run