Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures set a three-week high on Friday, lifted by a surge in feeder cattle futures as corn prices tumbled, traders said.
Tightening U.S. cattle supplies and a resilient beef market lent support, along with a strong close for the month and quarter on Wall Street that fueled optimism about consumer demand for meat.
“Both the product market and some of the outside markets were supportive,” said Altin Kalo with Steiner Consulting Group.
CME August live cattle futures settled up 2.675 cents at 177.175 cents/lb. after reaching 177.25, its highest since June 7, and October futures ended up 1.875 cents at 179.55 cents (all figures US$).
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Feeder cattle futures set life-of-contract highs as Chicago Board of Trade corn futures plunged six per cent on larger-than-expected U.S. plantings, signaling cheaper feed costs. Most-active August feeder cattle finished up 5.2 cents at 247.575 cents/lb. after recording a contract high at 248.075 cents.
Wholesale beef prices softened. The U.S. Department of Agriculture priced choice cuts at $327.72/cwt, down 33 cents from Thursday, but still well above year-ago levels and not far from the mid-June peak of $343.09, the highest since August 2021.
Hog futures closed mixed. Benchmark CME August lean hogs settled up 0.275 cent at 92.6 cents/lb., but traders noted chart resistance at the contract’s 100-day moving average near 93 cents.
Back months closed lower, with October hogs down 0.975 cent at 78.375 cents, pressured by bearish data in Thursday’s quarterly USDA hog report. The government reported the U.S. hog herd as of June 1 at 72.394 million head, a 0.1 per cent increase from a year earlier, bucking trade expectations for a reduction.
— Julie Ingwersen is a Reuters commodities correspondent in Chicago.
