Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures closed mostly lower on Friday, pressured by rising corn prices that depressed feeder cattle futures, traders said. But firmer cash cattle prices this week underpinned the market. CME January feeder cattle futures fell 1.35 cents to end at 157.725 cents/lb., sagging as Chicago Board of […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME cattle futures mostly lower as corn climbs
Technical buying supports lean hogs
U.S. livestock: CME lean hogs, live cattle modestly lower
Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures ended lower on Thursday, retreating near the close on technical selling and soft cash hog markets, traders said. The CME’s lean hog index, a two-day weighted average of cash hog prices, fell 0.51 cent, to 78.72 cents/lb. (all figures US$). CME December lean hogs settled […] Read more
Brazil plays down BSE risk in suspect cases in people
Reading Time: 2 minutes Sao Paulo/Rio de Janeiro | Reuters — Brazil’s agriculture ministry said that two cases reported on Thursday of a neurodegenerative disorder in patients in Rio de Janeiro state were not related to beef consumption, tamping down fears of possible BSE causing human illness. Federal biomedical institute Fiocruz, which is investigating the possibility of bovine spongiform […] Read more
Cargill beef plant workers serve strike notice
Without a deal, High River workers will walk Dec. 6
Reading Time: 3 minutes Unionized workers at Cargill’s cattle slaughter and processing plant at High River, Alta. will start strike action next month unless a deal can be reached with the company, their union said Wednesday. A strike would begin at High River no sooner than Dec. 6 at 12:01 a.m. if a new collective bargaining agreement isn’t reached […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME hog futures up on slaughter speed plan
December live cattle touch two-month high, end lower
Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures rose on Wednesday after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said it will allow nine pork processing plants to apply to operate faster line speeds under a pilot program. The announcement eased concerns that slower processing speeds had slowed meatpackers’ demand for pigs to slaughter, […] Read more
U.S. livestock: USDA lifts estimates for beef production, cattle prices
December live cattle up, lean hogs lower
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Tuesday raised its forecast for beef production and cattle prices in 2021 and 2022 due to strong demand and heavier livestock. Robust sales of U.S. beef to domestic consumers and overseas buyers have helped support Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) cattle futures. USDA, in a monthly […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle at two-month high on strong beef demand
December hogs follow pork lower
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures reached a two-month high on Monday amid expectations for solid demand for beef, traders said. Gains in cash cattle prices last week helped support futures, traders said. Meat packers killed an estimated 121,000 cattle at U.S. slaughtering plants on Monday, unchanged from a week ago, […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle market continues on downward trend
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, Western Canadian yearling markets dropped $2 to $4 while calf prices sank $2 to as much as $6 on average. Rising feed grain prices set a negative tone. Adverse weather also contributed to lower bids, especially in the lighter weight categories. Most auction barns had feature calf sales this past week. […] Read more
Beef cattle producers ‘encouraged’ by new CPTPP applicants
U.K., China, Taiwan seek memberships; no additional dairy, feather access on table
Reading Time: 3 minutes With their exports on an upswing, the organization for Canada’s beef cattle producers says it’s “encouraged to see other countries’ interest” in joining the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade bloc. The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association on Oct. 18 noted the official applications to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) from the United Kingdom, China and […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder cattle market grinds lower
Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets were down $2-$5 while calves dropped by $3 to as much as $8. We’re now seeing some medium-quality calves weighing around 550 lbs. sell under the psychological $200 level in central Alberta. The market is lacking demand. Feedlot inventories are running 33 per cent above the five-year […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
