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

U.S. livestock: Live cattle futures up, cattle placements drop

Lean hogs lower as weather curbs processing

Chicago | Reuters — CME live cattle futures firmed on Friday, as traders anticipated lower November feedlot placements in the U.S. Agriculture Department’s monthly Cattle on Feed report, released after the market close. USDA reported feedlot placements in November fell two per cent from a year ago. Analysts predicted a 4.2 per cent drop in […] Read more

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

U.S. livestock: February live cattle lower on slaughter delays

Winter weather caps gains in hog futures

Chicago | Reuters — CME live cattle futures eased on Thursday, as harsh cold conditions delayed slaughter operations, analysts said. Summer month futures climbed to contract highs as traders anticipate lower cattle supplies, possibly exacerbated by icy conditions. “We’re seeing those prices in April push through the roof. We now have a December that’s bitter […] Read more


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 on demand expectations

Live cattle follow retail beef prices higher

Chicago | Reuters — CME lean hog futures lifted on Wednesday, jumping to two-week highs on expectations that demand for market-ready hogs will perk up in the coming weeks, analysts said. “There seems to be a lot of optimism in buying for after the first of the year,” said Matthew Wiegand, Risk Management Consultant at […] Read more

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

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle up with boxed beef prices

Lean hogs rise, then close lower

Chicago | Reuters — CME Group live cattle futures finished higher on Monday as rising boxed beef prices signaled there is demand in the market, brokers said. Choice cuts of boxed beef rose by $1, to $263.83 per hundredweight, after climbing by $8.53 on Friday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said (all figures US$). Select […] Read more


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

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

Cold storage adds versus year-earlier

Chicago | Reuters — Live cattle futures at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange eased on Tuesday on softer holiday demand, after climbing to three-week highs a day prior due to tighter-than-expected cattle supplies, traders said. “With a short week, you won’t have to have as aggressive a cash trade to fill out the packer needs for […] Read more

CME August 2023 live cattle (candlesticks) beneath CME December 2023 live cattle (top line),  The spread between the two has been influencing the price structure for calves, Jerry Klassen writes. (Barchart)

Klassen: Stronger deferred live cattle futures support feeder market

Fall run seen moving into final stages

Compared to last week, western Canadian calf markets traded $5 lower to as much as $3 higher. Quality groups of heifers weighing 550-700 lbs. were notably $2-$3 higher and this was largely due to lower supplies of steers. Weather conditions improved in southern Alberta, which was supportive; however, buyers were cautious. Quality pre-conditioned calves held […] Read more


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

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle top three-week high on supply worries

Lean hog futures up with slaughter pace

Chicago | Reuters — Live cattle futures exceeded a three-week high at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange on Monday on worries about tightening U.S. supplies, while feeder cattle futures set a two-month high. Traders focused on a monthly U.S. Department of Agriculture report, issued after the market closed on Friday, that showed cattle placements into feedlots […] Read more

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


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

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