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 […] Read more

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 […] Read more


(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 […] Read more

CME July 2021 lean hogs with Bollinger bands (20,2) and August 2021 live cattle (dark red line). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hog futures rise on strength in cash market

August live cattle slip, feeder cattle up

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) hog futures rose on Monday, with the market underpinned by tight supplies and firm cash markets, traders said. But technical selling kept the gains in check, with the front-month contract failing to take out the seven-year high it hit on Friday. CME July lean hog futures added […] Read more


CME August 2021 feeder cattle (candlesticks) with August 2021 live cattle and lean hogs (red and pink lines, left column). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME feeder cattle slide on higher feed costs

Cattle slaughter down on short week, JBS hack

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) feeder cattle futures slipped on Friday, weighing on live cattle as rising corn futures pushed feed prices higher. “I think the downturn in feeders certainly was a factor,” said Altin Kalo, economist at Steiner Consulting Group. “I don’t see any other fundamental news out there that would […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Fed cattle finding profitable territory

The Markets with Deb McMillin, from the June 2021 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Fed cattle After over a year of losses, feedlots are beginning to see fed cattle marketed back in profitable territory. Fed cattle prices have strengthened over the past month. Seasonal price improvement, tighter numbers, excellent export demand and strong cut-out values have led to an increase of over $10/ cwt over the past four weeks. […] Read more


CME August 2021 feeder cattle (candlesticks) with 20-day moving average (red line) and CBOT July 2021 corn (yellow line). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME feeder cattle gain on lower corn

December live cattle, July hogs up

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) feeder cattle futures gained on Thursday, lifted by lower corn futures and firmer back-month live cattle. “From the feeder buyer’s perspective, you had higher cattle and lower corn, so that’s a good deal,” said Alan Brugler, president of Brugler Marketing. CME August feeder cattle closed 1.35 cents […] Read more

CME August 2021 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20-day moving average (red line) and July 2021 lean hogs (pink open/high/low/close). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME cattle futures rise as JBS reopens plants

July hogs down off Tuesday's peak

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) cattle futures firmed on Wednesday, bouncing back from Tuesday’s steep decline that stemmed from a shutdown of JBS SA’s beef operations due to a cyberattack. JBS employees were returning to U.S. meat plants on Wednesday, with a return to full capacity in the next couple of days. […] Read more


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

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures fall on cyberattack at JBS

July hogs touch contract high

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) cattle futures tumbled on Tuesday after JBS stopped slaughtering at U.S. plants because of a cyberattack. Brazil’s JBS told the U.S. government that a ransomware attack on the company originated from a criminal organization likely based in Russia, according to the White House. It is not known […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder market remains firm

Canada's feeder exports down off year-ago levels

Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle prices were steady to $2 higher on average. Strength was noted in the mid-weight categories as lighter calves and yearlings (900 pounds-plus) were relatively unchanged. Major feedlots were dominant buyers, with little demand surfacing for grassers. Feeding margins are in positive territory and recent rains have enhance […] Read more