U.S. livestock: Fund selloff undercuts CME live cattle

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures on Thursday slid after hitting contract highs in early trade, weighed by weaker wholesale beef prices and fund liquidation, traders said. The morning’s wholesale beef price, or cutout, dropped for a second straight day, with choice down $1.10 per hundredweight (cwt) from Wednesday to $242.27.

U.S. livestock: CME hog futures close mixed after volatile session

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange hog futures closed mixed on Wednesday, supported by higher cash hog prices while pressured by sporadic profit-taking, traders said. The morning’s hog price in the closely watched Iowa/Minnesota market rose $2.41 per hundredweight (cwt) to $122.90, surpassing Tuesday’s $121.13 record, based on U.S. Department of Agriculture data. Packers


U.S. livestock: CME hog futures gain, but slip from record high

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange hog futures closed higher in pit trading on Tuesday but eased from their all-time high as investors took profits while awaiting cash price direction, traders said. In electronic trading, CME April hogs edged upward after the average cost of hogs in the closely-watched Iowa/Minnesota market came in at

Klassen: Feeder cattle upward trend continues

Feeder cattle weighing under 700 pounds sold $2-$4 per hundredweight (cwt) higher last week in Western Canada while heavier replacements were steady to $2/cwt above week-ago levels. Quality feeder cattle supplies are starting to wane this time of year and feedlot managers were aggressively bidding on performance-based replacements. Buying interest on grassers was well noted






U.S. cattle deaths linked to Zilmax far exceed maker’s reports, study finds

Reuters — The number of U.S. cattle deaths that may be linked to the Merck and Co. feed additive Zilmax are much higher than the figures reported by the drug company to the federal government, according to a research study published Wednesday. The findings by researchers from Texas Tech University and Kansas State University show


U.S. livestock: Live cattle futures rise on hopes for cash prices

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle rose on Wednesday, driven by anticipation of higher cash prices this week, traders said. For now, there is more confidence in better prices for cash cattle given record-high beef values and positive packer margins, said R.J. O’Brien floor manager Jim Brooks. Cash cattle bids in Texas