Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle futures firmed on Wednesday amid technical trading, weakness in U.S. corn futures and hopes of higher cash prices next week as packers close out the year, analysts said.			
		 
			
				
	 
	The trade is expecting a smaller hog herd, Reuters survey shows
 
	Lean hog futures also ended the day lower
 
	Lean hogs end slightly down after early jump
 
	Gains in the stock market supported livestock futures, analyst says
 
	Live cattle futures have bounced a bit after sinking last week to a 14-month low
 
	"I think we're still trying to hunt for a bottom": analyst
 
	CME lean hogs hit lowest price since Nov. 28 contract low
 
	Despite small U.S. herd, placement into feedlots have been above last year's levels
 
	CME lean hog futures followed cattle contracts lower
 
	Chicago lean hogs continue higher