Photo: File

U.S. livestock: Hogs rally to nine-month high; cattle ease

Cattle futures weaker on seasonal slowdown and profit-taking round

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange hog futures rose to a nine-month high as a recent slowdown in the pace of slaughter limited the amount of retail supplies. Cattle futures were weaker on an expected seasonal slowdown and a round of profit-taking, traders said. CME July hogs jumped three cents to 95.85 cents per […] Read more

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

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle up as beef prices climb

Chicago lean hogs close mixed

Chicago | Reuters — Live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange rose on Friday ahead of a long U.S. holiday weekend, supported by strong beef prices and profitable margins for beef packers, traders said. CME’s benchmark August live cattle contract settled up 0.65 cent at 171.725 cents/lb. (all figures US$). The U.S. Department of […] Read more


File photo of a barley seedling. (SusanHSmith/iStock/Getty Images)

Feed weekly outlook: Market in a waiting game

U.S. corn, available wheat keep market supplied

MarketsFarm — The feed grain market in Western Canada is holding relatively steady for the time being as both buyers and sellers wait to get a better handle on new-crop production. “It’s a waiting game at this point between the farmer and the feedlot,” said grain merchant Jay Janzen of CorNine Commodities at Lacombe, Alta. […] Read more

Pasture conditions during the spring and summer always have an affect on beef markets.

Positive margins underpin feeder complex

Market Update with Jerry Klassen: As usual, a lot will depend on whether there’s moisture for grass and feed grains

During the second week of April, Alberta packers were buying live fed cattle in the range of $229-$230/cwt f.o.b. feedlot in southern Alberta. This is up approximately $7 from mid-April. Breakeven pen closeouts are around $220/cwt. After struggling for nearly three years in a row, feeding margins have finally moved into positive territory. Strength in […] Read more



File photo of a barley seedling. (SusanHSmith/iStock/Getty Images)

Feed weekly outlook: Rain falls, grain prices to follow

U.S. corn values expected to decline

MarketsFarm — Feed grain prices in Western Canada are showing the usual seasonal weakness as spring seeding continues, but prices are set to fall further. “I think as we get going, (prices) are going to lower down quite a bit,” Mike Fleischhauer of Eagle Commodities Ltd. at Lethbridge said. “The corn market over the next […] Read more


CME October 2023 feeder cattle with 20-, and 100-day moving averages and May 2023 feeder cattle (black line). (Barchart)

Klassen: Weather forecasts underpin feeder market

High forage costs pose problem for cow-calf expansion

For the week ending Saturday, western Canadian feeder cattle markets were relatively unchanged from seven days earlier. The finishing feedlot operator appears to be dominating the feeder market across all weight categories. Ontario interest was creeping all the way into Alberta, especially for Limousin-type genetics. There were limited numbers on offer in Manitoba and Saskatchewan […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Feed weekly outlook: Barley market steady for now

Feedlots still importing U.S. corn

MarketsFarm — Feed barley bids in Western Canada continue to hold steady, while attention in the market turns to the new crop going into the ground. “There currently is an uptick in demand for quick movement presenting good opportunities for producers ready to sell,” Alberta grain brokerage Agfinity said in a note to clients. “However, […] Read more


CME August 2023 feeder cattle with 20-day moving average (red line, right column) and CBOT July 2023 corn (yellow line, left column). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures up ahead of USDA feedlot data

Hog futures mixed; U.S. pork export sales up on week

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures rose on Thursday on technical buying and position-squaring ahead of a monthly U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) report that is expected to show fewer cattle in U.S. feedlots compared to a year ago, traders said. CME June live cattle settled up 0.7 cent at 165.525 […] Read more

CME June 2023 lean hogs with 20- and 50-day moving averages and CME cash lean hog index (blue line). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Lean hogs pressured by cheap cash prices, softer pork prices

Nearby live cattle higher, feeder cattle down

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures declined on Wednesday, snapping a three-session advance, pressured by a discounted cash hog market and declining wholesale pork prices, traders said. CME June lean hog futures settled down 2.325 cents at 84.875 cents/lb. and the July contract fell 2.575 cents to end at 85.55 cents […] Read more