U.S. meat industry groups want COOL repealed

Reuters — U.S. meat industry groups and packers have stepped up efforts to seek repeal of a law that requires products to have a country-of-origin label, citing increased costs and conflicts with trade partners, now that the Farm Bill passed by the House of Representatives on Wednesday keeps the COOL law in place. The American Meat […] Read more


Fatal pig virus spreads in U.S. hog herd

Reuters — The number of confirmed cases of a deadly pig virus that is spreading across the U.S. Hog Belt rose by 122 in the latest week, according to the USDA’s National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN). That brings the total to 2,394 in 23 states as of the week ended Jan. 18. But the […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle end higher on short-covering

Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle rose Thursday as investors covered short positions, while weaker cash cattle trade limited futures advances, traders and analysts said. Cash cattle traded in light volumes in Texas and Kansas at $130 per hundredweight (cwt), $1 lower than the previous week, feedlot sources said. Wednesday morning, a few cash cattle traded […] Read more



U.S. livestock: Live cattle futures settle mixed, hogs lower

Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures closed mixed on Tuesday, with the December contract supported by steady cash expectations for this week while bearish spreads pressured the February contract, traders said. Cash cattle asking prices in Texas and Kansas surfaced at $134 per hundredweight (cwt) with no bids from packers, feedlot sources said. Last week, […] Read more


U.S. livestock: Hog futures end mixed, cattle firm

Chicago Mercantile Exchange hogs closed mixed on Monday as investors bought the February contract and sold spot December futures before it expires on Dec. 17, traders and analysts said. Spot December ended 0.3 cent per pound lower at 81.375 cents. February hogs closed 0.85 cent higher at 89.85 cents (all figures US$). The December contract […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Hog futures fall to eight-month low

Chicago Mercantile Exchange hog futures on Thursday fell to an eight-month low, pressured by fund selling and weaker cash hog prices, traders said. The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Thursday afternoon quoted the closely watched Iowa/Minnesota hog market at $77.70 per hundredweight (cwt), down $1.08 from Wednesday (all figures US$). Hog supplies have increased at […] Read more