January 4, 2008

Canada sets second largest feeder cattle exports to the US

Canadian feeder cattle exports to the US last year is the second largest yearly total on record and total exports are seen to reach 525,000 heads in 2007.

The figures are below the record of 574,000 heads exported in 2002 due to drought and high feed grain prices which caused many feeder cattle to move south of the border.

Since the US border re-opened to live cattle trade in July 2005, annual feeder cattle exports have been on the rise with exports totalling 274,459 heads in the last six months of the year.

In 2006, feeder exports increased slightly to 327,062 head and shipments are expected to exceed by 200,000 in 2007. Feeder cattle exports during the first four months of last year were running below year ago levels until May that feeder exports began to run above year ago levels. Between May and September year, exports increased slightly and by September total year to date exports had jumped to 120 percent of the same period of 2006.

Large exports of 15,000 to 20,000 head per week in the last four months of 2007 made up most of the year over year increase in feeder exports. Weekly feeder cattle export volumes are expected to remain above year ago levels in the first quarter of 2008 due mainly to lower costs of gains in the US.