A Western blot analysis, used to detect specific proteins in tissue samples, is used to confirm BSE in cattle. (Peggy Greb photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

OIE ruling turns page on BSE in Canada

Canada's BSE status upgraded to 'negligible risk'

Reading Time: 5 minutes The international body overseeing countries’ animal disease control measures has assigned Canada the lowest level of risk for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) — a move which stands to help clear away lingering trade barriers against Canadian beef. The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) on Thursday announced it has delivered “negligible risk” status for BSE […] Read more

CME August 2021 lean hogs (candlesticks) with 20- and 50-day moving averages (pink, black lines) and August 2021 live cattle (red open/high/low/close). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Lean hogs ease on profit-taking

Cash prices, corn values drag on cattle futures

Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures settled mostly lower on Wednesday, as investors took profits after some nearby contracts scaled the highest levels in years during the session on strong cash hog and pork prices. Cash hog prices remained firm while pork values hovered near the highest in almost seven years, […] Read more


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

U.S. livestock: Lean hogs up as pork prices rise, corn tumbles

Corn's decline also feeder cattle's gain

Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures rebounded from the prior day’s losses on Tuesday on stronger cash pork prices and a weaker dollar, and as corn feed values fell sharply. Feeder cattle contracts also posted strong gains as benchmark corn futures on the Chicago Board of Trade plunged more than five […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder market heating up

Wholesale beef prices climbing

Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, quality yearling packages were $2-$5 higher while calf values were unchanged to $2 higher. A surge in buying interest surfaced for yearlings last week as fed cattle prices continue to trade near 52-week highs. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle in the range of $162-$165 delivered and breakeven pen closeouts are […] Read more


CME August 2021 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20-day moving average (red line) and July 2021 lean hogs (pink open/high/low/close). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures sink as on-feed supply tops estimates

Profit-taking drags on hogs

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures retreated on Monday after U.S. government data showed supplies in feedlots above trade expectations and as some traders worried about demand for beef. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said late on Friday that May 1 on-feed cattle supplies stood at 105 per cent of […] Read more

CME July 2021 lean hogs (candlesticks) with Bollinger bands (20,2) and August 2021 live cattle (red open/high/low/close). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hog futures rally to highest since August 2014

USDA's latest cattle count beats forecasts

Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange hog futures rallied on Friday to their highest in nearly seven years, with strong demand outstripping supplies on hand as restaurants around the U.S. have been reopening after COVID-19 shutdowns, traders said. “We are seeing strong retail demand, with the food service trying to recapture their share of […] Read more


CME August 2021 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20-day moving average (red line) and CBOT July 2021 corn (yellow line, left column). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle, hog futures up with cash markets

Boxed beef, select cuts priced at one-year highs

Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange hog and cattle futures rose on Wednesday, with the market underpinned by strength in the cash markets. Prices for the cattle contracts hit their highest in nearly a week, but closed off their session peaks as the corn market recovered from sharp declines. The early weakness in corn […] Read more

CME June 2021 lean hogs (candlesticks) with 20-day moving average (pink line) and June 2021 live cattle (red high/low/close). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hog futures rally on technical bounce

June live cattle up, August feeders down

Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — Lean hog futures rallied on Tuesday, rising 1.8 per cent on a technical bounce after three straight days of declines pushed prices to their lowest since April 30, traders said. Concerns about a tightening of supplies during grilling season added support. “We are still watching weekly hog slaughter rates,” said Rich […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Drier conditions will influence feeder market

Reading Time: 2 minutes The feeder market was hard to define this week. The quality of yearlings was quite variable. Fleshier types were heavily discounted while quality packages were unchanged from seven days earlier. Calf prices were mostly unchanged; however, values were down $4-$6 in drier pockets of southern Saskatchewan and southern Manitoba. Southern Alberta barley prices were quoted […] Read more

CME August 2021 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20- and 50-day moving averages (brown, black lines) and June 2021 lean hogs (pink high/low/close). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Live cattle futures close to unchanged

CME June lean hog futures fall

Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures settled close to unchanged on Monday, with attempts at a bargain-buying rally fizzling out after hitting some key resistance points. Hog futures were lower, notching their third straight day of declines on a technical setback. Cattle futures had weakened along with corn futures to end […] Read more