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

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle up on firm cash, speculative buying

February lean hogs end lower

Chicago | Reuters — Live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) hit the highest in nearly three weeks on Friday, supported by firm cash cattle markets and what appeared to be speculative buying, analysts said. Most-active CME February live cattle futures settled up 0.45 cent at 155.85 cents/lb. after reaching 156.125 cents, the […] Read more

(Canyonos/iStock/Getty Images)

Olymel to exit lard business, shut plant

Packer's St. Hyacinthe facility to permanently close

Pork and poultry packer Olymel is set to close the further processing plant it operates in its home town in Quebec as it exits the lard production business. The company, an arm of ag co-operative Sollio, announced Thursday it will close its St. Jacques Street plant at St. Hyacinthe, Que. effective Feb. 10, affecting 107 […] Read more


(Diane Kuhl/iStock/Getty Images)

CUSMA compensation set for supply-managed sectors

Feds pledge over $1.7 billion in payments, programs

A final round of payments and programs for Canada’s supply-managed dairy and feather sectors — this time in compensation for the sequel deal to NAFTA — is now on deck for 2023 and beyond. Compensation to those sectors for domestic market concessions granted under the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) was telegraphed in federal Finance Minister Chrystia […] Read more

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

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle up ahead of monthly USDA report

Lean hogs mostly up in technical trading

Chicago | Reuters — Benchmark live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) rose on Thursday for a third straight session on steady to firmer cash cattle markets and position-squaring a day ahead of a monthly U.S. government feedlot report, analysts said. Most-active CME February live cattle futures settled up 1.15 cents at 155.4 […] Read more


Some producers say it just doesn't make sense to keep any open cows in the herd.

Cull beef cows are pure economics

One producer finds there is no good reason to keep an open cow

In the fall, when the spring calves are weaned and removed from the cow herd, most producers walk through their herd on pasture or at home and think about which cows they should cull. Once candidates are picked, another decision is made as to whether to sell them immediately or feed them for the next […] Read more

CME February 2023 live cattle with 20- and 200-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle, lean hog futures end higher

Grain values' slip spurs buying

Chicago | Reuters — Live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) ended higher on Wednesday as expectations of tightening cattle supplies and a setback in grain prices sparked a round of buying, traders said. The most-active CME live cattle futures, for February delivery, settled up 1.2 cents at 154.25 cents/lb., a day after […] Read more


At least 12 killed in Nigeria attack over farmland

Gunmen appear in village in north

Abuja | Reuters — Gunmen have killed at least 12 people in an attack on a village in the northern Nigerian state of Plateau, residents and the state governor said on Wednesday, the latest deadly incident fuelled by growing pressure on land resources in the country. Violence between farmers and pastoralists has become increasingly common […] Read more

File photo of Upside Foods’ chicken product. (Upsidefoods.com)

Lab-grown meat cleared for human consumption by U.S. regulator

FDA's review not technically approval

Washington | Reuters — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the first time cleared a meat product grown from animal cells for human consumption, the agency announced on Wednesday. Upside Foods, a company that makes cell-cultured chicken by harvesting cells from live animals and using the cells to grow meat in stainless-steel tanks, […] Read more


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

U.S. livestock: CME feeder cattle near one-month low as corn jumps

Hogs up on China demand optimism

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange feeder cattle futures neared a one-month low on Tuesday as rising grain prices signaled risks for increased costs for livestock feed, brokers said. Unconfirmed reports that Russian missiles crossed into NATO member Poland fueled gains in corn, wheat and soy futures as traders worried about escalating geopolitical tensions. […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Adverse weather limits demand for calves

Stronger Canadian dollar adds pressure

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were steady to $2 higher. Calves traded steady to $10 lower in Alberta while markets in Saskatchewan and Manitoba were quoted $5 lower to $2 higher. Adverse weather resulted in a softer tone for calves with Lethbridge temperatures dipping to -25 to -33 C last week. The […] Read more