Central Stockyards adds team members, prepares for Canadian expansion

Central Stockyards, LLC , a livestock marketing service that hosts the Fed Cattle Exchange, the cattle industry’s only weekly fed cattle online auction, has expanded its team in preparation for the addition of Canadian feedyard and packer participation in its weekly sales.

Brent Difley has been named Business Development Director for Canada. In this role, he will be responsible for working with Canadian feedyards and packers to market fed cattle on the Fed Cattle Exchange.

Difley grew up on a ranch in Saskatchewan and has spent his career in the animal health industry, working across all Canadian provinces. With a degree from the University of Saskatchewan, Difley currently lives in Calgary and volunteers with the Calgary Stampede International Agriculture and Agrifood Committee where he serves as a Past Chair. He has also served as a mentor for the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association Canadian Young Leaders Program.

Cassidee Rogers has also joined Central Stockyards as Business Operations Coordinator, responsible for coordinating customer relations and daily Fed Cattle Exchange auctions. A cattle feeding industry veteran, Rogers brings a wealth of experience to the Central Stockyards team. Her knowledge and experience in the Northern Plains will help Central Stockyards expand into additional cattle feeding regions.

The addition of Difley and Rogers to the Central Stockyards team is being made in advance of the Fed Cattle Exchange’s forthcoming expansion into the Canadian market. While the Canadian fed cattle market is smaller than its United States counterpart, the basic principles and demand for transparent, real-time price discovery are still vital to the long-term profitability of the Canadian beef industry.

Forrest Roberts, President & CEO of Central Stockyards, LLC, noted: “The Fed Cattle Exchange has been approached many times by Canadian feedyards looking for a better way to enhance fed cattle price discovery. We are responding to this interest by modifying the Fed Cattle Exchange platform and setting aside a portion of our weekly auctions for Canadian fed cattle listings.”

The first Canadian cattle will be featured on the Fed Cattle Exchange on June 5, 2024. The Fed Cattle Exchange platform will reflect the terms used in Canadian fed cattle sales, including currency, weight, yield, and quality grade differences.

For more information, visit Central Stockyards at www.centralstockyards.com .