U.S. livestock: Cattle stumble on profit-taking, lower cash trades

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures notched their largest daily losses in nearly a month on Wednesday, pressured by profit-taking and weaker trades in U.S. Plains cash cattle markets, traders said. Feeder cattle futures fell nearly two per cent and lean hogs ebbed from their session highs, with each easing in […] Read more

(Regis Lefebure photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

U.S. livestock: Hogs rally from four-month lows on fund buying

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hogs climbed 1.7 per cent on Tuesday, rallying on technical and investment fund buying after falling to more than four-month lows last week, traders and analysts said. Rising wholesale pork prices also bolstered hog futures amid expectations the meat was becoming more competitive with more pricier beef cuts. Live […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Stronger fed cattle prices jolt feeder market

Feeder cattle markets came alive last week as fed cattle prices took a fortuitous bounce. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle in the range of $276-$279 on a dressed basis, up approximately $4 from week-ago levels. Improving beef demand enhanced wholesale beef prices, which quickly spilt over into the cattle complex. Compared to last week, […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: Live cattle rally on stronger Plains cash market

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures climbed to fresh three-month highs on Friday as firming beef packer bids at U.S. Plains feedlot markets fueled expectations of higher cash cattle sales this week. Tighter supplies of market-ready cattle on feedlot showlists this week helped to support the cash market. Trading later developed […] Read more



(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: Live cattle advance, anticipating firm cash prices

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures ended higher on Wednesday, supported by lagging cattle weights and expectations for higher cash market prices this week. Packers will be battling for a smaller number of market-ready cattle on showlists after recent frigid weather in the U.S. Plains and heavy snow in Iowa impeded […] Read more


(Lisa Guenther photo)

U.S. livestock: Live cattle end mixed

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures ended mixed on Tuesday, with nearby contracts weighed down by expectations for increased supplies of market-ready cattle beginning next month. Declines were limited by concerns that harsh winter weather last week in northern areas of the U.S. Plains and western Midwest slowed cattle weight gains, […] Read more

(Canada Beef Inc. photo)

Klassen: Feeder markets experience lacklustre trade

Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were relatively unchanged from week-ago levels as extremely cold temperatures hinder market activity. Most auction barns reported small groups of various quality cattle on offer, which made the market hard to define. In the major markets of Alberta such as Lethbridge, there were very few yearlings available. This forced major […] Read more



(Gloria Solano-Aguilar photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

U.S. livestock: Weaker cash, pork prices drop CME hogs

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures on Friday were pressured by lower cash and wholesale pork prices, said traders. They said February futures lost technical support while other contracts triggered sell stops after drifting below Thursday’s lows. February hogs closed down 0.225 cent/lb. to 73.175 cents, below the 20-day moving average […] Read more