CME October 2021 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, red and brown lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME cattle futures post new highs, end mixed

Hogs down on supply outlook

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures rallied to contract highs on Tuesday but ended mixed, with nearby contracts pressured by ideas that beef prices are topping out after a surge to nearly 15-month highs, traders said. Deferred live cattle contracts, however, were higher on the day on concerns about tight cattle […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

StatsCan sees higher cattle, hog inventories at July 1

Full impacts of West's drought not yet counted

Nationwide head counts of livestock from the “early stages” of Western Canada’s ongoing drought won’t yet show the weather’s full impact, but showed slightly larger herds heading into this summer compared to last year. Statistics Canada on Monday reported the first year-over-year increase in the size of the country’s cattle herd as of July 1 […] Read more


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

U.S. livestock: CME cattle rebound on improving cash markets, beef prices

CME lean hogs also up off Thursday losses

Chicago | Reuters — Live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange rebounded from prior-session losses on Friday, supported by signs of improving cash cattle prices and firming wholesale beef values, traders said. Prices, however, continued to struggle to break out of their recent trading range as concerns about slowing global economic growth and rising […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Plans afoot to move hay from East to drought-hit West

CFA, BFO spearheading Hay West-style initiatives

Farm groups are spearheading new plans to get livestock feed from Eastern Canada to drought-damaged regions of the western provinces and northwestern Ontario. Details are still pending, but the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) announced Aug. 12 it has started work on a “Hay West” initiative to get surplus hay “to those struggling in the […] Read more


CME October 2021 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, dark red and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME cattle, hogs drop in broader commodities sell-off

Investors take 'risk-off' approach, U.S. dollar surges

Chicago | Reuters — Cattle and hog futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange fell on Thursday, tracking broader market pressure amid worries about global growth and despite rising prices for beef and pork, traders said. Crude oil fell to its lowest levels since May and the U.S. dollar surged to a nine-month high, as rising […] Read more

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

U.S. livestock: CME cattle up on firm cash market, beef prices

Speculative buying, cash pork prices lift lean hogs

Chicago | Reuters — Live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange firmed on Wednesday on higher cash cattle and beef prices, while feeder cattle gained as rains were forecast to hit drought-parched grazing pastures in the western Midwest and northern Plains, traders said. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported moderately active cattle sales […] Read more


CME October 2021 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, dark red and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Lean hogs, live cattle end lower on uncertain demand

'Labour availability' still an issue for packers

Chicago | Reuters — Lean hog futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange ended lower on Tuesday on long liquidation and uncertainty about demand for various cuts of pork, traders said. Benchmark CME October lean hogs settled down 1.1 cents, or 1.2 per cent, at 87.9 cents/lb., retreating from Monday’s nearly three per cent rise (all […] Read more

CME October 2021 lean hogs (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, brown and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME lean hogs climb on strong cash

Live cattle also higher

Chicago | Reuters — Lean hog futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange rose nearly three per cent on Monday on technical buying and relatively strong cash hog markets, analysts said. CME’s benchmark October hog contract settled up 2.475 cents, or 2.9 per cent, at 89 cents/lb., pushing just above chart resistance at the contract’s 100-day […] Read more


Photo: Canada Beef Inc.

Klassen: Yearlings hold value while calves remain under pressure

Compared to last week, Western Canadian yearling prices were relatively unchanged while calves were once again $2 to $4 lower. Featherlight bawlers were down $4 to as much as $8 from week-ago levels. The tight feed grain supply situation continues to set the price structure for feeder cattle. Yearlings straight off grass held a slight […] Read more