(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures hit six-week high; hog futures ease after rally

Chicago | Reuters – U.S. cattle futures rose for the sixth time in seven sessions on Thursday, hitting a six-week high on signs of strength in the cash market, traders said. Hog futures eased after four straight days of gains pushed the front-month contract to its highest in nearly two months on Wednesday. Volumes were […] Read more

Photo: File

U.S. livestock: Hog futures rise to highest since late October; cattle firms

Chicago | Reuters – U.S. hog futures rose to their highest in nearly two months on Wednesday, supported by a round of technical buying and tight pork supplies. After the market closed on Tuesday, the U.S. government released a report that showed that domestic frozen pork belly stocks as of Nov. 30 stood at 23.111 […] Read more



Photo: File

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures drop on fund selling

Chicago | Reuters – U.S. cattle futures fell on Tuesday, with traders noting pressure from fund selling. Hog futures were slightly firmer as investors squared positions ahead of a key government supply report. Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) February live cattle futures dropped 1.2 cents to settle at 113.45 cents per pound. The contract found support […] Read more



Beef cattle feeding in Ontario. (DebraLee Wiseberg/iStock/Getty Images)

Ontario’s beef set-aside AgriRecovery plan underway

Applications for first intake due Dec. 22

A set-aside program has formally been launched to help Ontario’s 6,800-odd cattle producers maintain market-ready animals while Eastern Canada’s biggest beef slaughter plant remains closed. Federal and provincial officials on Monday announced applications are now open for the Canada-Ontario COVID-19 AgriRecovery Beef Emergency Feed Maintenance Initiative, with applications for the first intake period due by […] Read more


When snow is being used as a winter water source, it’s important to watch the your cow’s body condition.

Snow can work as a winter water source for cattle

Animal Health: But it’s also important to have a fresh source available

Every year at this time there should be talk about winter water sources for livestock. Since water is one of the main building blocks of the body, the quality and quantity of the water source are critical. It has been found in many studies over the years that if good-quality snow is available, mature cattle, […] Read more

CME February 2021 live cattle with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures weaken on technical setback

Hog futures up ahead of USDA data

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures eased on Monday, setting back on some mild technical selling after three days of gains, while hog futures edged higher, traders said. Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) February live cattle futures settled 0.2 cent lower at 114.65 cents/lb. (all figures US$). The contract hit its highest since Nov. […] Read more


CME February 2021 live cattle with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures firm as cash market rebound seen

Hog report expected to show smaller herd

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures rose for the third day in a row on Friday, on expectations that the cash market would rebound from recent lows in the coming days. Traders also viewed a government report that showed cattle placements during November were down sharply from a year earlier as bullish. “The […] Read more

CME February 2021 live cattle (candlesticks) with 100-day moving average (red line) and January 2021 feeder cattle (pink line). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures firm

Hogs weak despite big pork exports

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. cattle futures rose to a two-week high on Thursday, their second straight day of gains, on technical buying, traders said. Hog futures were weaker despite signs of strong pork exports and firm demand from China. Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) February live cattle futures settled up 0.675 cent at 114.45 cents/lb. […] Read more