CME August 2021 lean hogs (candlesticks) with 20- and 100-day moving averages (pink and black lines) and August 2021 live cattle (dark red line). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hogs limit down on new China stats

Live cattle futures up with cash values

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) lean hog futures fell their daily three-U.S.-cent limit on Wednesday, pressured by falling U.S. wholesale prices for pork products and news of increasing hog numbers in China, traders said. China’s pig herd rose 23.5 per cent in May from a year earlier, state media said on Wednesday,

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

U.S. livestock: Live cattle hit two-month high

CME lean hogs end mixed

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) live cattle futures rose more than two per cent on Tuesday, setting a two-month high as deferred prices for corn, the main feed grain for cattle, continued to fall, traders said. CME benchmark August live cattle futures settled up 2.625 cents at 123.9 cents/lb. after reaching 124.125


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder market heating up

Volumes thin with auction barns in holiday mode

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling steers traded $3-$4 higher while yearling heifers were steady to $2 higher. Mid-weight calves or young yearlings from 600 to 800 lbs. were $3-$5 higher on average. Calves under 600 lbs. were relatively unchanged. Favourable rains across the Prairies have enhanced crop prospects for barley and wheat. April

CME August 2021 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20- and 100-day moving averages (brown and black lines) and CME August 2021 lean hogs (pink line). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures climb as corn prices cool

Lean hogs end lower

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) live cattle futures rose on Monday, reaching a one-month top as falling prices for feed grains lifted feeder cattle futures, traders said. CME August live cattle futures settled up 1.25 cents at 121.275 cents/lb. after reaching 121.575 cents, the contract’s highest since May 13. August feeder cattle


CME August 2021 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20- and 100-day moving averages (dark red and black lines) and CME July 2021 lean hogs (pink line). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle gain on strong packer margins

Profit-taking sinks hogs

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) cattle futures firmed on Friday on strong beef plant margins and good demand from packers for fed cattle, traders said. Cash beef prices have flattened after a prolonged run higher, but packers continue to make a large profit on each animal slaughtered. “We’re probably seeing that our

The pork sector was among those applauding the passage of the new legislation.

Ag leaders pleased on passage of anti-trespassing laws

Strong opposition highlights the need for more conversations around biosecurity and farming practices

Agriculture leaders say they’re pleased to see two biosecurity and anti-trespassing bills pass into law. Manitoba Pork general manager Cam Dahl thanked the province for “helping producers protect their biosecurity as well as help them protect their workers and their families on the farm.” “These bills go a long ways to helping with those efforts,” he told the


CME July 2021 lean hogs (candlesticks) with June 2021 lean hogs (pink line), June 2021 live cattle (dark red line) and August 2021 live cattle (black line). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Lean hogs end mostly higher

Cattle futures advance

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) lean hog futures were mostly higher on Thursday on elevated pork prices and strong demand, although profit-taking clipped some of the gains, traders said. Lightly traded June hog futures climbed to the highest for a spot month contract in nearly seven years. More actively traded nearby contracts

CME July 2021 lean hogs (candlesticks) with 10- and 50-day moving averages (pink and black lines) and June 2021 lean hogs (dark red line). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Front-month hogs hit seven-year high in thin trade

August live cattle up, feeders lower

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) lean hog futures ended mixed on Wednesday, with the thinly traded June contract rising to a seven-year high as strong domestic demand continues to underpin prices even as export prospects wane, traders said. The most-active hog futures contract eased on profit-taking but remained near the peak it


CME July 2021 lean hogs (candlesticks) with August 2021 live cattle (dark red open/high/low/close). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: July hogs retreat after matching contract high

August live cattle up slightly, feeders down

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) lean hog futures ended mixed on Tuesday after matching a contract high because of tight U.S. supplies and firm cash markets, analysts said. The hog market has surged this year due to strong domestic demand and solid export sales to China, the world’s biggest pork consumer. Profit-taking

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder market in consolidation mode

Feeder values in West showing premium over U.S.

Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle prices were quite variable depending on the weight category. Replacement cattle weighing over 800 lbs. were steady to $4 lower while feeders weighing 700-800 lbs. traded steady to $4 higher on average. Feeder cattle under 600 lbs. were unchanged from seven days earlier. The fed cattle market