CME July 2021 lean hogs with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hog futures extend rally on cash prices, tight supply

Cash cattle, beef values see 'significant disconnect'

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures hit contract highs for the third consecutive day on Tuesday as a strong cash market and tight supplies pushed up prices. Solid demand for pork has helped boost the market, with meat processors paying up to buy hogs from producers, analysts said. The U.S. Department […] Read more



CME June 2021 lean hogs with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hogs set life-of-contract highs on tightening supplies

Cattle mixed on concerns for cash prices

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures soared to contract highs on Monday on tightening U.S. supplies and rising cash prices. Prices have been rallying as consumer demand is rising due to easing pandemic-induced restrictions on dining and travel, analysts said. Hog supplies are tight after some farmers euthanized hogs or performed […] Read more

CME June 2021 lean hogs with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Lean hogs climb on tightening hog supply

Higher feed costs weigh on feeder cattle futures; June live cattle up

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange gained on Friday on continued tight hog supplies that threaten to shrink available pork at a time when consumer demand remains strong. “Hog supplies are still shrinking seasonally. Pork supplies are figuring to tighten up as well,” said Doug Houghton, technical analyst […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Fed cattle prices see a boost

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

Fed cattle Tighter front-end supplies and higher cut-out values on both sides of the border have boosted fed cattle prices. Although not climbing as rapidly as the cut-out value, the Canadian fed cattle price saw a $2/cwt increase between late March and April 9. The second week of April saw a fed steer average of […] Read more

CME June 2021 live cattle with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Live cattle gain on grain market uncertainty

Lean hogs down with cash market

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures gained on Thursday, as mixed grain trade offered some relief for feed costs, while strong beef demand continued to support prices, traders said. CME’s June live cattle futures added 0.6 cent to 116.05 cents/lb., while August feeder cattle futures gained 0.975 cents to close at 149.875 cents/lb. […] Read more


Livestock Price Insurance Program expansion offers more strategic options for cow-calf producers

Livestock Price Insurance Program expansion offers more strategic options for cow-calf producers

Recent changes to the Livestock Price Insurance program give cow-calf producers a few more tools to protect themselves against market risk.    The Livestock Price Insurance Program, available to Western Canadian producers, protects producers from a range of market risks such as a rising Canadian dollar, a drop in the futures market, changes in basis levels […] Read more

Core biosecurity principles and accompanying practices linked to livestock production now envelop all aspects of food production, preparation, manufacturing and human health.

Planes of biosecurity

Vet Advice with Dr. Ron Clarke

Simply defined, biosecurity encompasses procedures intended to protect humans and animals from disease or harmful biological agents. Animal biosecurity is a general description for measures designed to protect Canada’s animal resources from foreign and endemic infectious and parasitic disease agents at national, regional and farm levels. Many of the concepts related to biosecurity formally started […] Read more


CME June 2021 lean hogs with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hog futures gain as supply outlook wanes

Live cattle ease on higher grain prices

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures climbed on Wednesday, supported by tight supplies and low inventory of available young hogs for producers as summer demand ramps up, traders said. CME most-active June lean hogs added 2.45 cents, to 109.125 cents/lb., with all contract months but June notching life-of-contract highs (all figures US$). “Tighter […] Read more

Gelbvieh heifers settle in at Olds College

Gelbvieh heifers settle in at Olds College

Purely Purebred, news from the April 2021 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Fifty-four Gelbvieh and Gelbvieh-influenced heifers have arrived and are halfway through their warm-up at Olds College. The Canadian Gelbvieh Association is looking forward to the start of testing. The project measures docility and its potential impact on growth and conception rates. Fertility and growth are two primary economic drivers of the profitability of the commercial […] Read more