CME February 2023 lean hogs with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hog futures rise on short-covering

CME cattle futures also up

Chicago | Reuters — CME Group hog futures rose on Tuesday, snapping a streak of five straight losing sessions on some mild short-covering, traders said. Gains were kept in check by concerns that demand for pork during China’s Lunar New Year celebrations will be lighter than usual due to rising COVID-19 cases in the country. […] Read more

L to R: Kimberly Widmer, Nels Nixdorff, Johnny Badura.

Alberta, Sask. ranchers receive accolades

Purely Purebred, news from the December 2022 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Congrats to McIntyre Ranch McIntyre Ranch, located in the Milk River Ridge area of southern Alberta, was recognized for 100 years of membership in the Canadian Hereford Association. Nels Nixdorff, CHA president, made a presentation to Johnny Badura and Kimberly Widmer, who accepted the award on behalf of the Thrall Family (see photos above). The […] Read more


CME August 2023 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

Klassen: Stronger deferred live cattle support feeder market

Cow-calf operators seen hesitant to expand

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $2-$3 on either side of unchanged. Calf prices were mostly unchanged compared to seven days earlier; however, there were pockets where buyers reported prices up $2-$3 on average. The Alberta calf market appeared to stage a minor recovery after softening over the past month. Manitoba markets […] Read more

CME February 2023 lean hogs with 20-day moving average (pink line) and CME cash lean hog index (blue line). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME February hogs hit two-month low

China COVID-19 concerns a factor; live cattle close higher

Chicago | Reuters — CME live hog futures fell to a two-month low on Monday, notching their fifth straight day of declines on concerns that Chinese pork consumption will fall during the country’s upcoming Lunar New Year celebrations, traders said. Cattle futures were firm, with strength in the cash market underpinning prices. Weakness in Chinese […] Read more


Graeme Finn’s pasture with alfalfa, Glenview sainfoin and cicer milkvetch, all legumes that help boost fertility.

Feeding cows for fertility

The right vitamin and mineral package, and high-quality forage, can boost a herd’s conception rate

The year is 1993 and Graeme Finn is saying goodbye to the blue skies and heat of Australia, replacing them with the gentle hills and crisp winters of Madden, Alta. Here, he starts a beef operation with his wife, Heather and their two daughters. With 2,800 acres of pasture rented, Finn is passionate about using […] Read more

CME February 2023 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle firm on cash resiliency

Lean hogs down on supply outlook

Chicago | Reuters — Live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange climbed on Friday, supported by resilient cash cattle prices across the U.S. Plains this week, traders said. “We had cash come right back,” said Joe Kooima, commodity broker at Kooima Kooima Varilek Trading Inc. “Cash was a dollar better in the south.” Cash […] Read more


Klassen: Feeder cattle market outlook

Klassen: Feeder cattle market outlook

Market Talk with Jerry Klassen

Feeder cattle markets in Western Canada have been trading near seven-year highs throughout the fall. Feeder cattle supplies are sharply below year-ago levels on both sides of the border. While supplies are tighter, demand from feedlots for replacement cattle has been significantly greater than last year. Finishing operators in Western Canada have been able to […] Read more




CME January 2023 feeder cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures firm despite softer cash cattle

Hog futures down as exports disappoint

Chicago | Reuters — Feeder cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange climbed on Thursday, supported by sluggish corn futures, while live cattle gains were muted as meatpackers offered lower cash cattle prices this week, traders said. “They’ve backed off a bit in the cash market,” said Doug Houghton, technical analyst at Brock Capital Management. […] Read more