CME December 2020 lean hogs with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Domestic demand boosts hog futures

Feed grain prices drag on feeder cattle

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. hog futures leapt to their highest price since May 2019 on Friday on strong domestic demand for pork, while feeder cattle futures tumbled to a three-month low. Gains in the swine market extend a rally driven by rising cash prices for hogs and demand from consumers. “Domestic demand has been […] Read more

CME October 2020 lean hogs with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hog futures hit highest since August 2019

U.S. beef export sales down on week

Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — U.S. hog futures rose to their highest in more than a year on Thursday, as consumer demand for pork remained robust even as the weather turned cooler. The front-month hog contract has risen for seven days in a row. “The domestic demand is just on fire,” said Don Roose, analyst with […] Read more


(Regis Lefebure photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

U.S. livestock: Cash market strength boosts hog futures

Cash cattle values also boost live cattle

Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — U.S. hog futures rose to their highest in more than a year on Tuesday, rallying to keep pace with recent gains in the cash market. The cash market strength stemmed from continued good demand even as the traditional U.S. grilling season draws to a close with the weather turning cooler. “There’s […] Read more

CME December 2020 live cattle with 20- and 50-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle, hog futures rise on strong cash markets

U.S. packers seen dialing up slaughter pace

Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle and lean hog futures advanced on Monday on expectations that cash prices will remain firm, analysts said. Cash cattle prices are expected to rise $1-$2/cwt this week as packers ramp up slaughtering, said Brian Hoops, president of broker Midwest Market Solutions (all figures US$). Fat cattle last week […] Read more


CME December 2020 live cattle with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures sag on fears for economy, beef demand

Firm cash hog values support hog futures

Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — Live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange eased on Friday, following as global financial markets fell after U.S. President Donald Trump tested positive for the coronavirus, adding to investor uncertainty. Disappointing U.S. job growth numbers heightened worries about consumer demand for beef, at a time when retailers are starting to […] Read more

CME December 2020 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages and October 2020 live cattle (purple line). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Nearby cattle futures lower on profit-taking

Chicago lean hogs end mixed

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures closed mixed on Thursday with nearby contracts drifting lower on profit-taking a day after the benchmark December contract touched a six-week high, analysts said. Commodity funds hold a net long position in Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) live cattle futures, leaving the market vulnerable to bouts of long […] Read more


CME December 2020 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle up on beef demand, cash market optimism

Chicago hogs down on profit-taking

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures rose on Tuesday, with the December contract reaching its highest in a month on signs of strong demand for beef and expectations of firm cash cattle trade this week, analysts said. Also, commodity funds appeared to be adjusting positions ahead of the end of the month and […] Read more

CME October 2020 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures up on cash market optimism

Wholesale pork values support October hogs

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures closed firm on Monday, rallying after a sharply lower open as strong packer margins raised expectations for higher cash cattle trade this week, analysts said. Average beef packer margins rose to $320.18 per head, from $313.25 on Friday, according to livestock marketing advisory service HedgersEdge.com (all figures […] Read more


CME December 2020 lean hogs with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hog futures rise on export hopes

CME cattle futures weaken

Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — U.S. hog futures rose 1.7 per cent on Friday, with the market shrugging off bearish supply data on hopes that exports would remain strong, traders said. “At a time when we are nearing our fourth-quarter peak in supply, the market is highly focused on the belief that export sales are running […] Read more

CME October 2020 live cattle with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures rise on supply concerns

CME lean hog futures down

Reading Time: < 1 minute Chicago | Reuters — Live cattle futures rose to their highest in more than a month on Thursday, supported by signs of a stabilizing cash market and concerns about tight supplies in the coming months, traders said. “The feedlots believe… that we have a marketing hole for most of October into December,” Don Roose, president […] Read more