Insights and Stories of Jerry Klassen

Feb. 16, 2014 at 12:45 am CST

Western Canadian feeder cattle prices set new record highs at most auction barns last week. It appears that pen closeouts are profitable by approximately $200/head and feedlot operators are anxious to reload. Buying interest for grassers is also starting to step forward and backgrounding operators were actively buying lighter weight […]

By Jerry Klassen

Feb. 11, 2014 at 4:55 am CST

A sharp drop in wholesale beef prices, along with softer fed cattle values, caused the feeder market to finally run into some resistance last week. Adverse weather also tempered buying enthusiasm for lighter-weight cattle, with dreadful temperatures reported across most of Western Canada. The feeder market is indeed functioning to […]

By Jerry Klassen

Feb. 3, 2014 at 7:00 am CST

Strength in fed cattle prices in Alberta reached up to an astonishing $148.50 per hundredweight (cwt) last week, which spilt over into the feeder complex. Larger volumes of heavier feeder cattle are coming on the market, with backgrounding operations liquidating fall-placed calves, but this did little to stem the upward […]

By Jerry Klassen

Jan. 27, 2014 at 2:32 am CST

Newton’s first law of motion continues to describe the cattle market, as an object in motion tends to stay in motion until acted upon by another force. Last year is a distant memory for most cattle producers as ownership becomes a key feature and no eye blinks at paying $196 […]

By Jerry Klassen

Jan. 20, 2014 at 8:02 am CST

Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were $5 to $8 per hundredweight (cwt) higher on average, compared to seven days earlier, and are a solid $15/cwt higher relative to average values in December. Most auction barns are now back to regular sales after the holiday season and larger volumes allowed buyers […]

By Jerry Klassen