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Vietnam approves commercial use of first African swine fever vaccines

U.S. Agriculture Secretary says farmers may purchase as precaution despite no domestic cases

Hanoi | Reuters – Vietnam has approved the domestic commercial use of two home-grown vaccines against African swine fever, the government said on Monday, making them the world’s first commercial vaccines against the deadly disease. The vaccines include NAVET-ASFVAC, co-developed by Navetco Central Veterinary Medicine and scientists from the United States, and AVAC ASF LIVE […] Read more

Photo: Canada Beef

U.S. Livestock: cattle futures fall, supplies remain tight

USDA says farmers raising the fewest number of beef cows since 1971

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange Group live cattle futures weakened on Friday but remained near all-time highs hit a day earlier as traders squared positions ahead of key government supply reports. Traders said that the market faced pressure from profit-taking but weakness in the corn market helped limit the decline. August live cattle futures […] Read more


File photo of a Chinese cornfield. (Baona/iStock/Getty Images)

Rain in China’s northeast brings relief for corn, drought risk remains

An oversupply of hogs, weak demand are pressuring pork prices

Beijing | Reuters – Recent rainfall in China’s northeastern breadbasket has relieved drought across most of the region, an agriculture ministry official said Friday, but risks remain with the El Nino weather pattern potentially bringing more extreme weather this summer. China is the world’s second-biggest corn producer and about 40 per cent of its crop […] Read more

(File photo)

U.S. Livestock: cattle futures fall after hitting record high

Export sales of beef rose to 20,900 metric tons in the week ended July 13: USDA

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures rose to all-time highs on Thursday, with signs of strong export demand and good sales on the cash market supporting prices, traders said. But cattle prices closed lower on a round of profit-taking as traders took money off the table ahead of key government supply reports […] Read more


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Activists target Ontario hog farm with ransomware

'We are dealing with adversaries whose motivation is not money'

A ransomware on a small Ontario hog business is something a cybersecurity expert says needs more attention from the agriculture industry. Instead of cash, the attackers demanded the hog business owners publicly admit to what they alleged to be livestock mistreatment. The occurrence was unique and alarming, says Ali Dehghantanha, Canada research chair in cybersecurity […] Read more

Photo: Canada Beef Inc.

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle firm; remain near recent highs

A lack of fresh fundamental inputs limited the gains

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle edged higher on Wednesday, with tight U.S. supplies keeping prices near contract highs. A lack of fresh fundamental inputs limited the gains. August live cattle futures LCQ3 settled up 0.05 cent at 181.325 cents per pound, ending just below the contract high of 181.875 cents it set […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

US Livestock: live cattle rise on limited US supply, strong cash prices

Analysts suggest high prices, tight supply may drive meatpackers to cut hours

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures extended gains on Tuesday on worries over limited U.S. supplies. Recent strength in cash prices for cattle helped to support futures, analysts said, after ranchers shrank their herds due to drought and high feed costs. Analysts said there is chatter in the market that high […] Read more

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

U.S. livestock: CME August live cattle touch new high

Hogs lower as China books higher pork output

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures set a new high in the front-month contract on Monday on technical buying and concerns over tightening U.S. supplies, analysts said. August live cattle reached its life-of-contract high of 181.6 cents/lb. before retreating to settle 0.05 cent lower at 180.125 cents/lb. (all figures US$). October […] Read more


CME August 2023 live cattle with 20- and 50-day moving averages and October 2023 live cattle (black line). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME cattle turn higher

Chicago lean hog futures mixed

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures turned higher on Friday amid a flurry of technical trading, even as beef prices continued to see a seasonal downturn, traders said. Cash cattle market trades this week continued to be down $2-$3 per hundredweight (cwt), traders said (all figures US$). The U.S. Department of […] Read more

CME August 2023 live cattle with 20- and 50-day moving averages and October 2023 live cattle (black line). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME cattle down off contract highs on profit-taking

Hogs also down off early strength

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures turned lower on Wednesday on a round of profit-taking after most months climbed to life-of-contract highs, with a seasonal downturn in beef prices adding to bearish sentiment, traders said. Most-active August live cattle futures settled down 1.95 cents at 176.875 cents/lb., retreating after rising to […] Read more