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

U.S. livestock: CME hog futures extend rally on USDA data

Feeder cattle up on bargain-buying

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) lean hog futures rose on Tuesday for a fourth straight session as traders continued to digest Friday’s U.S. government report that signaled tighter hog supplies into 2022, analysts said. CME October lean hogs settled up 1.425 cents at 91.675 cents/lb. and the benchmark December contract rose 2.025 […] Read more



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

U.S. livestock: CME hogs surge on bullish USDA data

Chicago cattle futures sag

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) lean hog futures soared on Monday, with the most-active December contract rising its daily limit after a quarterly U.S. Department of Agriculture report showed a smaller-than-expected U.S. hog herd. CME October lean hogs settled up 2.975 cents at 90.25 cents/lb., and the December contract rose its daily […] Read more

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

U.S. livestock: CME hogs rise, live cattle slip ahead of USDA reports

Cattle on feed top trade estimates

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) lean hog futures climbed on Friday, largely supported by positioning ahead of a key hog inventory report issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) after the close, analysts said. Higher cash pork prices and the still-wide discount of futures to cash hog prices were also supportive. […] Read more


The U.S. calf crop has been shrinking since 2018.

It’s a bullish market for feeder cattle

Market Update: This is a good time to buy bred heifers or cow-calf pairs

I’ve received many inquiries from cow-calf producers and backgrounding operators regarding the price outlook for feeder cattle. As of early September, tan steers coming straight off grass averaging 920 pounds were quoted at $199 in southern Alberta; Angus-based heifers weighing 850 pounds were valued at $187. Yearling prices have been hovering at 52-week highs over the […] Read more

CME October 2021 lean hogs (candlesticks) with 20-day moving average (dark red line) and cash lean hog index (pink line). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME lean hogs firm on China’s herd restrictions

Cattle mixed to lower ahead of report

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) lean hog futures firmed on Thursday, after China lowered its sow herd targets in an effort to ensure supply and stabilize prices. China’s ministry of agriculture and rural affairs said the target for its sow herd was now around 41 million head for 2021-2025 and should be […] Read more


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

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle follow packer demand down

Lean hog futures also lower

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures fell on Tuesday, pressured by weak cash cattle trade as packer demand remains light, analysts said. “The lack of bids is daunting,” said Joe Kooima, commodity broker at Kooima Kooima Varilek Trading Inc. Kooima noted packers have enough cattle purchased on negotiated contracts to meet […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Finishing feedlot demand drives yearlings higher

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearlings traded $2 lower to as much as $5 higher. Strength was once again noted in southern Alberta where heavier yearlings recorded a fresh 52-week high. Calves were relatively unchanged from week-ago levels. Larger groups of quality weaned genetics traded as much $5 above average values. Feather-lite bawlers under […] Read more


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

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle end mixed, hogs lower

Futures under pressure as equity markets slump

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures ended mixed on Monday as late-session bargain buying only partly offset pressure from adequate cattle supplies and global economic concerns that threatened to blunt demand for beef. “The cattle market can’t seem to catch a break. Boxed beef has been trending down and there are […] Read more

CME December 2021 lean hogs (candlesticks) with Bollinger bands (20,2) and CME cash lean hog index (grey line, left column). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME hogs extend gains in recovery from slide

Cattle futures follow boxed beef lower

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures on Friday extended a rebound from a selloff that dragged the market to its lowest prices since February this week, while cattle futures sagged. The hog market was due for a correction to the upside after the most-active December contract fell 13.5 per cent from […] Read more