CME June 2023 lean hogs with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hog futures rise on cash market strength

CME cattle futures mixed

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange hog futures rose on Friday, supported by strength in the cash market and good overseas demand for pork, traders said. Cattle futures were mixed, with feeder cattle contracts easing on a round of profit-taking after setting new contract highs while live cattle contracts ended firm. CME’s most-active June […] Read more

U.S. and Canadian beef cow slaughter has been higher than expected throughout the first quarter of 2023, but this is expected to change.

Feeder cattle prices to peak this November

Market Update with Jerry Klassen: The fall of 2023 is not a good time to think about backgrounding calves

U.S. and Canadian feeder cattle prices have been trending higher over the past year. As of late March, quality genetic steers with medium to lower flesh, averaging 950 pounds were valued at $244 in Central Alberta. Higher quality heifers with lower flesh were trading at an $18-$20 discount to steers. Calf prices were also nearing […] Read more


CME June 2023 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures firm as corn prices fall

Lean hog futures down on profit-taking

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle futures ended firm on Thursday as corn futures sank to a nine-month low. Falling corn prices raised prospects for reduced feeding costs, traders said. Hog futures weakened, pressured by a round of profit taking after hitting their highest since April 4. The gains in cattle were kept […] Read more

File photo of a barley seedling. (SusanHSmith/iStock/Getty Images)

Feed weekly outlook: Grain area to increase this year

Oats area expected to be reduced

MarketsFarm — Early signs point to increased Canadian feed grain production in 2023-24, with record corn acreage intentions and increases in both barley and wheat area on the year, according to the latest estimates from Statistics Canada. Planted corn area in the country is forecast at 3.725 million acres in 2023, which would be up […] Read more


CME June 2023 live cattle with 10-, 20- and 50-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle rise as corn prices drop

Chicago lean hogs also strong

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle futures rose Wednesday, supported by weakness in corn prices that boosted expectations for lower feeding costs, traders said. Hog futures rallied on strength in the cash markets. CME’s most-active June live cattle contract gained 0.55 cent, to 164.575 cents, rising above its 10-day moving average (all figures […] Read more

CME June 2023 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Live cattle, hogs mostly weaker

Feeder cattle futures mixed

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle and hog futures contracts were mostly weaker on Tuesday, with ample supplies weighing on prices. Traders also noted pressure from poor cash market values and concerns about demand due to worries about the global economy. “There probably is a little bit of a drag from outside […] Read more


Photo: Canada Beef

Klassen: Positive feeding margins lift feeder complex

Futures continue percolating higher

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearlings traded steady to $5/cwt higher. Feeders in the 650- to 800-lb. category appeared to jump $4/cwt to as much as $8/cwt in some cases. Calves under 650 lbs. were up $5-$10/cwt. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle in southern Alberta on a live basis at $222/cwt f.o.b. the […] Read more

CME August 2023 feeder cattle with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Feeder cattle fall after USDA report

June hogs rise above 10-day moving average

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle contracts edged higher on Monday, while feeder cattle contracts fell, after U.S. government data released on Friday afternoon showed bigger-than-expected supplies in feedlots. The U.S. Agriculture Department’s monthly report showed that the number of U.S. cattle on feed, as of April 1, was down four per […] Read more


CME June 2023 live cattle with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME cattle mixed, cash-futures spread remains wide

Hogs firm after touching new lows

Chicago | Reuters — The Chicago Mercantile Exchange’s spot live cattle futures eased on Friday, after prices in some cash cattle markets dipped lower than last week, traders said. Still, traders cautioned, the spread between cash and deferred futures prices remains wide — a spread that could tighten in the coming weeks as the U.S. […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feed weekly outlook: Quiet times appear to be ahead

Significant weather event would maybe move prices

MarketsFarm — As feed grain prices on the Canadian Prairies remain relatively stable, the market appear to be “moving to a quiet summer,” according to Brandon Motz of CorNine Commodities at Lacombe, Alta. “Demand remains neutral to weak, and farmers are holding on to their grain that’s left in the bin,” Motz explained, noting feedlots […] Read more