CME December 2022 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, dark red and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle climb on cash market optimism

Lean hog futures also close higher

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange livestock futures rose on Tuesday on hopes that the pace of slaughter of both cattle and hogs will pick up after slowing down for the U.S. Labor Day holiday weekend. Short-covering was also noted in hog futures after the front-month contract sank to its lowest since Feb. 9 […] Read more



File photo of piglets at a hog operation in China. (KuLouKu/iStock/Getty Images)

Federal funding lined up for programs, planning against swine fever

Two-year package to go toward pork industry work

The federal government is putting up an eight-figure funding wall to help prevent African swine fever from ever reaching Canada’s hog farms — and to prepare against any breach. Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau said Aug. 26 the government will provide up to $45.3 million toward a three-pronged effort to boost disease prevention and preparedness: pork […] Read more

CME December 2022 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, dark red and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle climb on cash market optimism

CME lean hogs slip on cash market pessimism

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures ended higher on Friday on expectations of higher cash cattle prices next week and position-squaring ahead of a long U.S. holiday weekend, traders said. Benchmark CME October live cattle futures settled up 1.75 cents at 144.55 cents/lb., with December up 1.675 cents at 150.25 cents […] Read more


CME October 2022 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, dark red and black lines), (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures up as corn prices sag

CME lean hogs end mixed

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures settled mostly higher on Thursday as lower grain prices propped up feeder cattle futures, signaling cheaper feed costs, traders said. Benchmark CME October live cattle futures settled up 0.225 cent at 142.8 cents/lb., a day after dipping to a four-week low (all figures US$). CME […] Read more

CME October 2022 lean hogs (candlesticks, right column) with 20-day moving average (pink line) and CME’s cash lean hog index (black line, left column). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME lean hog futures follow cash hogs lower

Live cattle down, feeder cattle mixed

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures fell on Wednesday on profit-taking after a two-session climb and pressure from softening cash hog prices, traders said. CME benchmark October lean hogs settled down 2.075 cents at 91.525 cents/lb. and December hogs ended down 1.625 cents at 83.875 cents/lb. The CME Lean Hog Index, […] Read more


CME October 2022 live cattle (candlesticks) with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures climb on bargain-buying

CME lean hogs also higher

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures rose on Tuesday on bargain-buying, a day after the October contract hit a 3-1/2 week low, traders said. A setback in prices for corn, a key feedgrain, added support. But rallies were capped by broad declines in commodities, including crude oil, and Wall Street equity […] Read more

(File photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Initial drought list ready for 2022 livestock tax deferrals

Much of Manitoba, southern Alberta designated for 2022

Many of the Prairie livestock producers forced by drought to make “difficult herd management decisions” in the 2022 income tax year are now eligible to defer the taxable income from those decisions. Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau on Tuesday released the initial list of designated regions in Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan where livestock tax deferral […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder markets digest StatCan data

Barley crop expected up 34 per cent on year

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded steady to $2 higher. Yearling prices have strengthened by $8-$10 over the past four weeks. Calf values were relatively unchanged but the market was hard to define due to limited volumes. Alberta packers were buying on a dressed basis from $300 to $302 delivered, up $1-$2 […] Read more

CME October 2022 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, dark red and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME cattle futures soften amid recession fears

CME lean hogs close higher

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle and feeder cattle futures weakened on Monday amid spillover pressure from weakness in equity markets, analysts said. U.S. stocks closed lower, adding to sharp losses last week, on nagging concerns about the Federal Reserve’s determination to hike interest rates to fight inflation even as the economy […] Read more