(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Steady demand supports feeder cattle prices

Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets were relatively unchanged. Weakness in deferred live cattle futures and uncertainty in the feed grain market tempered the upside for all weight categories of replacement cattle. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis in the range of $288-$290 delivered, steady to $2 lower […] Read more

CME August 2022 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, red and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle, hog futures fall as feed costs rise

Pre-Memorial Day consolidation seen

Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — CME Group hog and cattle futures eased on Friday, with rising soy and corn futures raising feed costs for livestock producers. Traders noted consolidation trade ahead of the U.S. Memorial Day holiday weekend. U.S. grain and livestock markets will be closed on Monday. The nearby June hogs contract fell 0.7 cent, […] Read more


CME June 2022 lean hogs (candlesticks) with 20-, 40- and 100-day moving averages (pink, brown and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: June hogs touch four-week high

June, August live cattle futures up slightly

Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — CME Group hog futures rose to their highest level in more than a month on Thursday, supported by strong exports and concerns about a slowing slaughter, traders said. Cattle futures ended the trading day close to unchanged. The U.S. Agriculture Department on Thursday morning said that export sales of pork totaled […] Read more

CME August 2022 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, red and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures weaken on cash market pressure

CME hog futures close mixed

Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — CME Group cattle futures dipped on Wednesday, pressured by weakness in the cash markets, traders said. Hog futures were mixed, with prices closing well off their session highs after contracts hit technical resistance. The nearby June hogs contract rose 0.025 cent to 109.05 cents/lb., while most-active July futures fell 1.1 cents, […] Read more


CME July 2022 lean hogs (candlesticks) with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hog futures fall as supplies rise

CME live cattle turn lower

Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — CME hog futures eased on Tuesday, pressured by a government report released after the close on Monday that showed supplies of pork at their highest in two years. The U.S. Agriculture Department on Monday afternoon said that frozen stocks of pork stood at 530.244 million lbs. as of April 30, up […] Read more

CME August 2022 feeder cattle (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day movjng averages (pink, red and black lines). (Barchart)

Klassen: Canadian feeder market divorces from feeder cattle futures

Timing of new-crop feed grains leads to shift

Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week western Canadian yearling markets traded $3-$4 on either side of unchanged. The quality was quite variable resulting in the wide price structure; however, decent genetic and lower flesh packages were red hot. Feedlot operators were extremely aggressive on 700- to 800-lb. steers although higher weight categories were also well bid. Auction […] Read more


CME July 2022 lean hogs (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, brown and dark red lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME hog futures rise on export prospects

Chicago cattle futures also gain

Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange hog futures rose on Monday, with the front-month contract hitting its highest since April 22, on expectations for a pick-up in demand from top pork consumer China, traders said. The most-active July hog futures contract ended firm for the sixth time in the last seven sessions, but faced […] Read more

CME August 2022 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, dark red and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: August live cattle, feeders ease on USDA report

Chicago lean hog futures firm

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures were mixed on Friday, with the nearby contract firming while the most-active month eased, pressured by expectations of increased cattle placements in the U.S. Agriculture Department’s monthly assessment. U.S. feedlots held two per cent more cattle on May 1 versus the same time a year […] Read more


CME August 2022 live cattle (candlesticks) with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle mixed as traders await USDA data

Lean hog futures turn lower

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures ended mixed on Thursday as traders awaited U.S. Department of Agriculture data on the number of cattle in feedlots. USDA’s Cattle on Feed report, due Friday at 2 p.m. CT, is expected to show U.S. feedlots held 1.3 per cent more on May 1, compared […] Read more

CME August 2022 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, dark red and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME cattle fall with equities

Concerns remain over U.S. consumer demand

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle and feeder cattle futures dropped on Wednesday as traders reduced risk amid steep losses in the stock market, analysts said. Lean hog futures strengthened at the CME. Cattle futures are more sensitive than hogs to falling stock prices, said Dan Norcini, an independent livestock trader. Wall […] Read more