CME June 2021 lean hogs (candlesticks) with 20-day moving average (pink line) and June 2021 live cattle (dark red line). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hogs rally again on pork prices, supply woes

June live cattle rise to even with June hogs

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures extended a sharp rally on Wednesday, touching contract highs for the fourth consecutive day on limited supplies and strong pork prices. U.S. pork demand is strong as sales have benefited after households received additional COVID-19 pandemic relief money from the federal government, analysts said. The […] Read more

CME July 2021 lean hogs with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hog futures extend rally on cash prices, tight supply

Cash cattle, beef values see 'significant disconnect'

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures hit contract highs for the third consecutive day on Tuesday as a strong cash market and tight supplies pushed up prices. Solid demand for pork has helped boost the market, with meat processors paying up to buy hogs from producers, analysts said. The U.S. Department […] Read more



CME June 2021 lean hogs with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hogs set life-of-contract highs on tightening supplies

Cattle mixed on concerns for cash prices

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures soared to contract highs on Monday on tightening U.S. supplies and rising cash prices. Prices have been rallying as consumer demand is rising due to easing pandemic-induced restrictions on dining and travel, analysts said. Hog supplies are tight after some farmers euthanized hogs or performed […] Read more


dairy cows eating TMR

Dairy Corner: Forage fibre the big driver in milk fat production

Put your TMR to the test to determine if it's the proper particle size


Maintaining good milk production with adequate milk fat is always the main source of good revenue on most dairy farms. Regardless of the actual feed ingredient formulation, it must work in tandem with the natural body functions of healthy cows. This is something we should keep in mind when reformulating current rations if restrictions are […] Read more

(Sollio Co-operative Group video screengrab via YouTube)

Workers call strike at Olymel hog plant in Quebec

Producers urged to prioritize heavier hogs when shipping

Talks toward a new contract for unionized employees at meat packer Olymel’s hog slaughter and processing plant in Quebec’s Beauce region have ended in a strike. The Syndicat des travailleurs d’Olymel Vallee-Jonction-CSN, which represents over 1,000 staff at Vallee-Jonction, about 60 km southeast of Quebec City, called an “indefinite” strike effective Wednesday morning, the union […] Read more


U.S. livestock: Lean hogs climb on tightening hog supply

Higher feed costs weigh on feeder cattle futures; June live cattle up

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange gained on Friday on continued tight hog supplies that threaten to shrink available pork at a time when consumer demand remains strong. “Hog supplies are still shrinking seasonally. Pork supplies are figuring to tighten up as well,” said Doug Houghton, technical analyst […] Read more

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

U.S. livestock: Live cattle gain on grain market uncertainty

Lean hogs down with cash market

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures gained on Thursday, as mixed grain trade offered some relief for feed costs, while strong beef demand continued to support prices, traders said. CME’s June live cattle futures added 0.6 cent to 116.05 cents/lb., while August feeder cattle futures gained 0.975 cents to close at 149.875 cents/lb. […] Read more


Protective equipment and good cleaning protocols go a long way in preventing the spread of disease.

Do animal diseases impact humans?

Animal Health with Roy Lewis: COVID-19 is an extreme example of disease transmission between animals and humans known as zoonosis

Not one animal-borne disease in recent memory has affected our lives more than COVID-19. There are lots of other diseases ranging from more minor ailments such as ringworm, to those that have major consequences such as toxoplasmosis or echinococcus (alveolar hydatid disease). Detailed descriptions can be found on line, but both can be very serious. […] Read more

CME June 2021 lean hogs with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hog futures gain as supply outlook wanes

Live cattle ease on higher grain prices

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures climbed on Wednesday, supported by tight supplies and low inventory of available young hogs for producers as summer demand ramps up, traders said. CME most-active June lean hogs added 2.45 cents, to 109.125 cents/lb., with all contract months but June notching life-of-contract highs (all figures US$). “Tighter […] Read more