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

U.S. livestock: CME hogs weaken, cattle rise as winter storms hit

Hogs touch lowest since Dec. 16

Chicago | Reuters — CME lean hog futures fell to their lowest price in more than two weeks on Wednesday and live cattle futures strengthened as snowstorms continued to disrupt livestock operations. Feeder cattle futures reached their highest price since September. Wintry weather in the northern U.S. Plains has delayed livestock shipments, reduced cattle weights […] Read more

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

U.S. livestock: CME cattle, hog futures near two-week lows in broad selloff

Boxed beef values limit losses in cattle

Chicago | Reuters — CME Group livestock futures hit their lowest prices in about two weeks on Tuesday on profit-taking and widespread selling that dragged down commodity and financial markets, analysts said. Traders booked profit in live cattle after the most-active contract reached a fresh high on Thursday, brokers said. Benchmark CME February live cattle […] Read more


Back: Simon Baillargeon, Alexandra Wright, Steve Cooper, Komie Hossini, Koos Van Jaarsveld, Chad Haidey, Scott Brown. Front: Guillaume Lessard, Étienne Lessard, Allsion Squires, Cody Straza.

New Cattle Young Leaders, new ag manager for Lloyd exhibition

NewsMakers from the January 2023 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Canadian Cattle Young Leaders Austin Ashbacher was born and raised in Alberta. After graduating high school, he travelled to Australia and then completed an agriculture business degree from the University of Alberta.  Having grown up on a primarily beef farm, Ashbacher returned to his family farm to pursue a farming career. Now with his wife, […] Read more

Fed cattle prices struggle in fourth quarter

Fed cattle prices struggle in fourth quarter

The Markets with Deb McMillin, from the January 2023 issue of Canadian Cattlemen

Fed cattle Fed cattle prices struggled through the fourth quarter of 2022. Front-end supplies were expected to be cleaned up before holiday demand and buying took place. However, fed sellers still struggle with front-end supply and now large fed carcass weights just keep adding pounds that need to be marketed before getting ahead of the […] Read more


Photo: Canada Beef

Klassen: Feeder market to start 2023 on firm tone

Counter-seasonal behaviour expected

There were no market reports last week due to the holiday season; however, I still received a few calls from cattle producers regarding the feeder market outlook for the first quarter of 2023. The feeder market finished 2022 at 52-week highs. Steers averaging 500 lbs. were readily trading over the psychological $300 level while 900-lb. […] Read more

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

U.S. livestock: CME futures ease on profit-taking, feed prices

Smaller cattle supplies remain a concern

Chicago | Reuters — CME livestock futures eased back on Friday, as traders sought profits after cattle futures hit new contract highs in the previous session and on pressure from a run-up in grains, traders said. U.S. livestock markets will be closed Monday for the New Year holiday. On Tuesday, the markets will pre-open at […] Read more


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

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle futures hit new highs on tight supplies

Technical selling drags on hogs, again

Chicago | Reuters — CME live cattle futures and several deferred feeder cattle futures hit new contract highs on Thursday, as shrinking weights of market-ready cattle and concerns over smaller supplies helped fuel a price rally, traders said. Ongoing concerns over the recent severe winter storm impacting the livestock sector across the U.S. Great Plains […] Read more

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

Klassen: Historically high deferred live cattle futures support feeder complex

Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $2 lower to $4 higher on average. Many auction barns were on holidays last week; therefore, the buying interest appeared to be more concentrated on the major markets. There were no reports from Manitoba last week. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed […] Read more


CME February 2023 live cattle with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle futures ease, supplies in focus

Hog futures down on technical selling

Chicago | Reuters — CME live cattle futures eased on Wednesday, after moving higher in the previous session, as traders watch for smaller supplies of market-ready cattle moving through the system, traders said. Snow and ice across the U.S. Great Plains last week will likely also reduce supply, shrinking weights of market-ready cattle. “The recent […] Read more

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

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle futures climb on tight supplies

Supply report also bullish for hog futures

Chicago | Reuters — CME live cattle futures firmed on Tuesday, supported by lower cattle supplies and the impact of cold weather on cattle weights, traders said. Winter weather last week across the U.S. Great Plains likely caused cattle to lose weight amid snow and below-freezing temperatures, said Brad Kooima, commodity broker at Kooima Kooima […] Read more