Reuters — U.S. pork production is likely to decline about two per cent this year due to the spread of porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED), the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in its monthly livestock outlook report. Live hog prices were expected to increase as a result of the pig virus, the report said. As of […] Read more
PEDv seen pushing U.S. 2014 pork production down two per cent
USDA seen considering mandatory reports of PEDv outbreaks
Chicago | Reuters — The U.S. government is considering rules that would require outbreaks of a deadly pig virus to be reported to the government in an effort to improve tracking of the disease, which has already spread to 30 states, an industry group said Monday. Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv) has killed millions of […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME hogs end firm on fund buying, higher wholesale pork
Chicago | Reuters — Fund buying boosted Chicago Mercantile Exchange hogs more than one per cent on Monday while wholesale pork prices also underpinned prices, traders said. Hog futures rose late in the session as traders actively bought summer hog contracts. The CME April hog contract rose 1.52 per cent due to its discount to […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Short-covering, cash trade support CME cattle
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures ended higher on Thursday supported by short-covering and expectations of at least steady cash trade, traders said. “The packers have tried to buy cattle on their own terms, but the supplies are so tight,” said Lane Broadbent, analyst at KIS Futures. “It appears they may […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME cattle pressured by anticipation of lower cash trade
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures ended slightly lower on Thursday, pressured by expectations of lower cash trade, and weaker wholesale beef prices, traders said. Beef packers will be reluctant to pay higher prices for cattle in the cash market as wholesale beef prices come off recent highs and their profit […] Read more
Fire temporarily shuts Cargill Nebraska beef plant
Reuters — Cargill said its beef processing plant in Schuyler, Neb. was closed early Thursday due to a fire and an ammonia leak. The causes of the fire and ammonia leak are unknown at this time. Damage to the plant was still being assessed, but no injuries were reported, said Cargill spokesman Michael Martin. Both production […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME lean hogs surge, cattle firm
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures jumped more than one per cent on Wednesday, fueled by firm cash hog prices and fund buying, traders said. Heavy snowfall and cold temperatures across a large portion of the U.S. Midwest and Plains regions also lent support to hog futures due to uncertainty about […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle end lower, hogs firm
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures retreated on Tuesday, pressured by technical selling and by anticipation of softer cash prices in the near term, traders and analysts said. The CME February live cattle contract fell below the 20-day moving average, triggering some technical selling, a trader said. There was talk of […] Read more
Tyson says pig virus to cut pork supply by two to four per cent
Reuters — Tyson Foods, the largest U.S. meat processor, said Friday it expects pork supplies to drop two to four per cent this fiscal year, raising wholesale prices, as a deadly pig virus spreads through the U.S. hog belt. Heavier hogs will offset some of the loss in headcount, Jim Lochner, Tyson’s chief operating officer, […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle futures end firm, hogs slip
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures settled firm on Thursday as investors adjusted positions ahead of the government’s annual cattle inventory report that will be released on Friday, traders said. Analysts expect Friday’s data to show the U.S. cattle herd likely fell for a seventh straight year, but the rate of […] Read more