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

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle futures set new contract highs

February hogs drop to two-week low

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures set new highs on Friday and finished stronger on technical buying and firm cash prices, traders said. The front-month December contract and most-active February 2022 contract avoided losses seen in commodities such as crude oil and soybeans that were unnerved by the discovery of a […] Read more

CME December 2021 live cattle (candlesticks) with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Live cattle hit fresh high

Higher cash values, beef demand support futures

Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) live cattle futures rose for a sixth consecutive session on Wednesday, and the front-month contract touched its highest point in four-and-a-half years, on higher cash market prices and strong beef demand. Most contracts posted life-of-contract highs, extending a multi-session rally, amid rising beef imports by China and […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Fed cattle prices down on the week

Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were down $4 to $6 on average. Sub quality feeders traded as much as $8 below week ago levels. The market was hard to define with wide price ranges on similar weight feeders within a short distance. Southern Alberta is contending with adverse pen conditions as […] Read more

CME December 2021 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, brown and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Live cattle notch 4-1/2 year high

Lean hogs gain on good demand

Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) live cattle futures rose for a fifth consecutive session on Tuesday and the front-month contract reached its highest in 4-1/2-years on a firm cash market and good beef demand. Cattle prices have been trending higher amid rising imports by China and improved domestic demand as more consumers […] Read more


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

U.S. livestock: Live cattle notch 4-1/2-year high

Lean hogs gain on good demand

Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — Live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) climbed for a fourth straight session on Monday, with front-month contract hitting a fresh 4-1/2-year high on strong demand. Lean hog futures also firmed, supported by good demand. Lighter-than-normal trading volumes aided livestock futures’ advance on Monday, with little selling pressure ahead […] Read more

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

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures up for third straight day

December, February hogs lower

Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — CME Group cattle futures rose for a third day in a row on Friday, with the front-month live cattle contract hitting a fresh 4-1/2-year high on strong cash markets and rising slaughter numbers. Hog futures were weaker on technical selling. CME’s most-active February live cattle contract gained 0.45 cent to 137.7 […] Read more


U.S. livestock: Cash, export markets lift CME live cattle

December hogs lower, February up

Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — CME Group cattle futures rose on Thursday, with the front-month live cattle contract hitting its highest since June 2017 on support from strength in the cash markets. Rising overseas demand also lent support cattle futures after the U.S. Agriculture Department said that weekly beef export sales totaled 30,000 tonnes, the most […] Read more

CME February 2022 live cattle (candlesticks) with 10-, 20- and 50-day moving averages (pink, dark red and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME lean hogs fall, live cattle firm

Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — CME lean hog futures fell on Wednesday, hit by profit-taking after rallying in the previous session, traders said. Live cattle futures were firm but gains were kept in check as the market consolidated near the 4-1/2-year highs hit earlier in the week. CME December lean hogs fell 1.55 cents to 76.175 […] Read more


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

U.S. livestock: CME lean hogs up, cattle weak

Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — CME Group lean hog futures rallied on Tuesday, supported by fund buying and expectations that supplies will begin to tighten in the coming weeks, traders said. Live cattle futures eased slightly for the second day in a row as the market waited for fresh bullish inputs before driving prices above the […] Read more

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Klassen: Feeder market continues downward slide

Prairies' snowstorm leads to risk discount

Reading Time: 2 minutes Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were steady to $2 lower; calves traded $2-$4 below week-ago levels. Saskatchewan and Manitoba experienced their first major snowstorm of the season last week. The market tends to incorporate a risk discount for adverse weather as buyers factor in higher death loss. Also, major feedlot operators believe […] Read more