Photo: File

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures fall; hog futures rise as traders look at cash prices

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures fell for the second day in a row on Friday, with traders saying that prices were still too high compared to cash market. High prices for corn and wheat that weighed on cattle producers’ profit margins added further pressure. But traders noted the opposite in […] Read more

Beef is on display at a Walmart in Beijing on Sept. 23, 2019. (File photo: Reuters/Tingshu Wang)

Beef cattle producers ‘encouraged’ by new CPTPP applicants

U.K., China, Taiwan seek memberships; no additional dairy, feather access on table

With their exports on an upswing, the organization for Canada’s beef cattle producers says it’s “encouraged to see other countries’ interest” in joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade bloc. The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association on Oct. 18 noted the official applications to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) from the United Kingdom, China and […] Read more


Photo: Canada Beef

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures fall after three days of gains, hogs firm

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures fell on Thursday, snapping three sessions of gains on some profit-taking, traders said. Fresh signs of strength in the cash cattle markets had already been priced in, a trader said, and sharply higher prices for grain raised concerns about increased feeding costs. Hog futures were […] Read more

Photo: File

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures hit near two-month high as cash markets firm

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle futures rose for the third day in a row on Wednesday, nearing a two-month high on signs of improving cash markets. Traders also said a stepped-up pace of slaughter in recent days indicated demand for beef remains high. CME lean hog futures closed lower, with the front-month […] Read more


Security wear face masks at the Greeley, Colorado, JBS USA meat packing plant where two staff members had died of COVID-19, April 8, 2020.   Photo: REUTERS/Jim Urquhart/File Photo

Coronavirus infections at U.S. meat plants far higher than previous estimates, House subcommittee hears

Cases and deaths from COVID-19 among workers at the leading U.S. meatpacking plants were three times as high as previously estimated, according to a report by the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis seen by Reuters. The subcommittee surveyed major meatpackers Tyson Foods, JBS USA, Cargill, National Beef , and Smithfield Foods, which together control over 80 percent […] Read more

If you haven’t implemented an implant program into your operation, think of doing it now.

Important to follow proper implanting technique for calves

Growth implants can generate at least a 15:1 return on investment

After all these years, implanting is still one of the most underutilized management tools in beef production. The feedlot sector has pretty much adopted implanting routinely, but the cow-calf sector lags far behind. It is one thing if “natural, hormone-free, or organic” beef is being raised and implants must be avoided as part of these […] Read more


Photo: Thinkstock

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures extend rally; hog contracts weaken

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle futures rose to their highest in more than seven weeks on Tuesday, with traders noting follow-through buying after the market rallied on Monday. Concerns about supplies and strength in the cash market underpinned cattle futures. CME December live cattle futures settled up 1.925 cents at 131.45 per […] Read more



Photo: Thinkstock

U.S. livestock: CME cattle futures rise on support from fewer cattle placements

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle futures rose on Monday, as the market continued to be bolstered by a government report showing fewer cattle placements than expected, traders said. The USDA’s monthly cattle on feed report, released after the market close on Friday, showed September cattle placements at 97% year-over-year, beneath trade estimates […] Read more