U.S. livestock: Lean hogs end mixed as trade gauges trade war impact

U.S. livestock: Lean hogs end mixed as trade gauges trade war impact

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) lean hog futures were mixed on Friday in choppy trading as investors weighed rising pork prices against weak cash hog values and rising concerns about pork exports to China. Spread trading steered some contracts up sharply while others, including actively traded October and December futures, retreated. “Spreads […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Lean hogs rally for second day

U.S. livestock: Lean hogs rally for second day

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) lean hog futures posted strong gains for a second consecutive session Thursday, lifted by short-covering and technical buying following the market’s recent drop. Rising pork prices and solid pork exports supported the market, largely diluting concerns over U.S. trade tensions with China, the world’s top hog and […] Read more


Improved design of handling equipment benefits all aspects of processing cattle.

Improved design applied to cattle handling equipment

Animal Health: Easier on cattle and people and the job gets done faster

For three weeks in December 2018, I filled in at a former practice. There were a few really positive things and improvements in many of the farms I visited previously. Most are progressive operators so improvements are always being made. These improve animal welfare and make it easier on the people involved — including me, […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Lean hogs tumble on worsening U.S.-China trade ties

U.S. livestock: Lean hogs tumble on worsening U.S.-China trade ties

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) lean hog futures fell sharply on Tuesday as growing tensions between Washington and Beijing fueled worries about U.S. pork exports. China, the world’s largest hog and pork market, has threatened to halt all purchases of U.S. agricultural products after U.S. President Donald Trump announced he would slap […] Read more


CME October 2019 lean hogs (candlesticks) and October live cattle (line). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hog futures swing wildly as trade war intensifies

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) livestock futures swung wildly on Monday, with the most-active October lean hog futures going nearly limit-up and -down in the same trading session, amid growing tensions in the U.S.-China trade war. China’s commerce ministry said that Chinese companies have stopped buying U.S. agricultural products, and that China […] Read more

Photo: Canada Beef Inc.

Klassen: Feeder cattle markets remain firm

Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were unchanged from seven days earlier. Strong buying interest was noted from finishing feedlots in Alberta. Orders flowed across the prairies keeping prices relatively even. U.S. feeder cattle markets traded $3 to as much as $8 higher in the Northern Plains which also underpinned prices in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. There […] Read more


Low demand and large supplies are expected to make the early fall period a dreary time for feedlot operators.

Volatile ride ahead for cattle complex

Market Update: Late October may be the best window to sell calves

The Alberta fed cattle market has been trending lower over the past two months as the market functions to encourage demand. In the previous issue, we explained that the beef market is characterized by an inelastic demand curve. Therefore, a small change in supplies can have a large influence on the price. Monthly beef production increased from March through June. […] Read more

Photo: iStock/File

U.S. livestock: Futures rally on choppy grains, hopes for Chinese buying spree

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) live hog futures rallied on Tuesday, as competition among packers for spot delivery grew and animal weights slipped after the recent U.S. heat wave, traders said. Live cattle futures also inched up, supported in part by choppy trading in U.S. grain futures and growing questions of whether […] Read more