CME February 2023 lean hogs with 20- and 100-day moving averages and CME cash lean hog index (blue line). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME lean hogs firm with supplies in focus

Feeder cattle up on supply expectations

Chicago | Reuters — Lean hog futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange firmed on Thursday, erasing the week’s earlier losses as smaller supplies of market-ready hogs offset seasonal pressure. “Fundamentally, we know we’re fairly tight on supplies. We’re not getting expansion,” said Alan Brugler, president of Brugler Marketing. The CME February lean hogs contract added […] Read more

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

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle firm on strong cash trade

Hogs firm after five days' decline

Chicago | Reuters — Live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange firmed on Wednesday, supported by strong cash markets and a steady pace of processing. “Even though there’s a seasonal pullback for the next couple of weeks, it doesn’t look like cash wants to break,” said Scott Varilek, broker at Kooima Kooima Varilek Trading […] Read more


File photo of a Canadian Holstein dairy cow outdoors. (Diane Kuhl/iStock/Getty Images)

Quebec ag ministry, UPA organize to round up rogue dairy herd

Spooked cattle on run since July

Quebec’s provincial ag ministry and the Mauricie regional arm of the Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA) are asking for the public’s patience as they organize a new effort to capture a herd of dairy cattle on the loose since the summer. Quebec media quoting dairy farmer Pierre Lapointe, the animals’ owner, have said the cattle […] Read more

CME February 2023 lean hogs with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: February hogs fall on high supply, export demand concerns

Cattle futures up but seasonal pressures await

Chicago | Reuters — Lean hog futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange eased for a fifth consecutive session on Tuesday, pressured by a combination added seasonal supply and deflated demand as China faces protests over COVID-19 lockdowns. “This three-week period, we’re pushing a large supply of hogs through the system,” said Rich Nelson, chief strategist […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder market rations demand

Risk discount built in with adverse weather

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were relatively unchanged while calf prices were steady to $6 lower. Demand from Ontario buyers caused markets in Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan to hold value. Alberta prices were under pressure as the market appears to be rationing demand. Calf prices are 25-30 per cent higher than year-ago […] Read more

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

U.S. livestock: CME lean hog futures tumble on China demand worries

Cattle futures lower despite bullish fundamentals

Chicago | Reuters — Lean hog futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange fell more than four per cent on Monday, pressured by worries about Chinese demand for U.S. pork and expectations of a seasonal slide in wholesale ham prices, traders said. The CME February lean hogs contract settled down 3.75 cents at 84.75 cents/lb. after […] Read more


(Town of Taber via Facebook)

Police help round up Alberta ostriches on lam

Several wander into Taber, become social media stars

Most of a flock of farmed ostriches that got free of their pen near the southern Alberta town of Taber have been rounded up, but not before grabbing their proverbial 15 minutes’ fame. Taber-Vauxhall RCMP said in a release Thursday afternoon that they began receiving reports shortly before 8 a.m. that day of ostriches on […] Read more

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

U.S. livestock: CME futures slip after short, choppy trading day

Beef, pork packer margins in red Friday

Chicago | Reuters — Cattle futures fell on a short, choppy day of trading on Friday, as technical trading had some contracts up earlier in the session even as corn prices firmed, traders said. CME lean hog futures also eased back. The Chicago-traded livestock markets closed early on Friday, and were closed on Thursday for […] Read more


(Scott Bauer photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

U.S. avian flu outbreak of 2022 wipes out record number of birds

Vast majority of caseload originated with wild birds: USDA

Chicago | Reuters — Avian flu has wiped out 50.54 million birds in the United States this year, making it the country’s deadliest outbreak in history, U.S. Department of Agriculture data showed Thursday. The deaths of chickens, turkeys and other birds represent the worst U.S. animal-health disaster to date, topping the previous record of 50.5 […] Read more

CME February 2022 live cattle with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle, lean hogs ease

Beef supply drawdown 'quite substantial' in October

Chicago | Reuters — Live cattle futures at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange fell on Wednesday during thin pre-Thanksgiving trade, though analysts said market fundamentals remains supportive. The Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) will be closed on Thursday for the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday. Reductions in beef cold storage supplies last month should be supportive after the […] Read more