Reading Time: 4 minutes Chicago | Reuters — An Indiana farm has become the first to confirm publicly it suffered a second outbreak of a deadly pig virus, fueling concerns that a disease that has wiped out 10 per cent of the U.S. hog population will be harder to contain than producers and veterinarians expected. The farm, through its […] Read more
PEDv re-infects U.S. farm, fuels supply fears
U.S. livestock: Fund buying drives CME feeder cattle to record high
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange feeder cattle Wednesday hit a record high on fund buying after contracts broke through technical resistance levels, traders said. “(The) technical aspect of the feeder cattle market looks fine,” said Citigroup futures specialist Sterling Smith. Fundamentally, young calves for feeding will be in demand given generally weak corn […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Supply worries drop CME live cattle futures
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures closed lower on Tuesday in anticipation of a seasonal bump in supplies that could further pressure prices for market-ready, or cash cattle, traders said. Last week, cash cattle in Texas and Kansas moved at $144 per hundredweight (cwt), $1 lower than the week before (all […] Read more
Maple Leaf’s flagship pork plant cutting days: MPC
Reading Time: 2 minutes Market conditions leading one of Canada’s major pork packers to cut operating days at its flagship western Manitoba plant aren’t likely to improve soon, the province’s hog producers warn. Toronto processor Maple Leaf Foods has announced it will cut one processing day per month from the schedule at its Brandon, Man. plant for the next […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME hog futures sag with cash prices before holiday
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange hog futures ended lower on Friday, pressured by weaker prices for market-ready, or cash, hogs, with packing plants set to close on Memorial Day, traders said. The CME also will be closed on Monday in observance of the U.S. Memorial Day holiday. Cash hog prices felt more pressure […] Read more
Mexico reports PEDv in 17 states out of 19 tested
Reading Time: 2 minutes Paris | Reuters — Mexico reported outbreaks of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv) in 17 states out of 19 tested, the World Animal Health Organization (OIE) said. Following reports of unusually high mortality, mainly in piglets, in the central-western part of the country, Mexican veterinary officials tested 2,309 samples between August 2013 and May 2014 […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME hog futures slump with cash prices, pork demand
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange hogs closed lower on Thursday, pressured by weaker prices for market-ready or cash hogs pegged to plant closures during the U.S. Memorial Day holiday, trader said. They also cited the relapse in wholesale pork prices. Grocers bought all the product they need to accommodate grilling demand over the […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Fund buying rallies CME hog futures
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange hog futures closed higher on Wednesday, supported by short-covering and fund buying, traders said. Speculation about tight supplies ahead pegged to the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv) provided further support to futures that ignored Wednesday’s drop in market-ready hog and wholesale pork prices. The morning’s average hog price […] Read more
PEDv likely to ease in U.S. by year-end, OIE chief predicts
Reading Time: 2 minutes Paris | Reuters — A deadly pig virus that has decimated herds in the U.S. and sent prices rocketing is likely to subside before the end of this year as the causes are being identified, the head of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) said. Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv) has wiped out more […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Profit-taking undercuts CME live cattle
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures finished lower on Tuesday, pressured by profit-taking in anticipation of steady-to-lower prices for market-ready or cash cattle this week, traders said. Plant closures during the U.S. Memorial Day holiday will lessen their need for supplies, they said. Processors curbed slaughters to avoid spending more for […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
