CME October 2023 live cattle with 20-, 30- and 50-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME cattle steady to weak

Hogs mixed with demand in focus

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle futures were steady to weak, while hog futures were mixed on Tuesday, with the market pressured by demand concerns as the end of grilling season nears, traders said. August live cattle futures ended unchanged at 179.7 cents/lb. (all figures US$). Most-active October live cattle fell 0.525 cent, […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: CME cattle firm on steady-higher cash

Lean hog futures regained after softening on Thursday

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures firmed on Friday, supported by underlying strength in the cash markets and tighter cattle slaughter, analysts said. August live cattle futures LCQ3 added 2.400 cents to 180.900 cents per pound. Most-active October live cattle LCV3 lifted 1.600 cents to settle at 182.900 cents per pound. […] Read more


Canada Beef launches its ‘Cuts by Colour Guide’

Canada Beef launches its ‘Cuts by Colour Guide’

News Roundup: Guide to support cattle producers marketing their own beef

The Cuts by Colour Guide, powered by the Canadian Beef Information Gateway, was launched by Canada Beef in June to help cattle producers who sell beef directly to consumers. The guide is also suitable for use by small butchers and abattoirs. The guide is in poster format (24″ x 18″) and has colour coding and […] Read more

(Geralyn Wichers photo)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle ease despite cash market support

Despite losses, supportive fundamentals remain for live cattle

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures eased on Wednesday, pressured by macroeconomic weight as a downgrade that stripped the U.S. of its top credit rating rippled throughout markets, analysts said. Despite losses, supportive fundamentals remain for live cattle. “We’re still going into smaller numbers,” said Joe Kooima, commodity broker at Kooima […] Read more


File photo of cattle in an Alberta feedlot. (Geralyn Wichers photo)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle firms on strong cash market

Lean hog futures eased after reaching fresh four-month highs

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures gained on Tuesday, helped by strong cash prices and technical support, analysts said. “Cash market is still hanging in there at $179 to $180 area. More than that in the north. So August was too big of a discount,” said Alan Brugler, president of Brugler […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: U.S. feeder markets lead Canadian prices higher

Dry conditions in Saskatchewan and parts of Alberta are moving yearlings off grass sooner than expected

Compared to last week, Western Canadian yearling markets once again jumped $3-$5/cwt on average. Higher quality 900-pound steers are reaching up to the range of $310-$315/cwt. Comments from readers suggest that 850-900-pound steers are trading up to $315-$320/cwt. Calves in the 500-550-pound range are reaching just over the $400/cwt level. Dryer conditions in Saskatchewan and […] Read more


Photo: ARS/USDA

U.S. livestock: CME lean hog futures climb on strong demand

SubtitleCattle futures were pressured by softer cash prices and uncertain consumer demand

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange hog futures climbed to nearly four-month highs on Monday, supported by strong demand. “Cash trade got off to a good start. There’s margin out there with where fresh pork values are at. I think that’s helping to move things along,” said Matthew Wiegand, risk management consultant at FuturesOne. […] Read more

(Deyana Robova photo/iStock/Getty Images)

U.S. livestock: CME lean hog futures reach one-week high

For beef processors, margins are worsening

Chicago | Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange livestock futures rose on Friday, with the hog market reaching its highest price in a week as profit margins improved for pork processors. The hog market has turned higher after dropping to a one-week low on Wednesday. Most-active October lean hog futures LHV3 ended up 1.775 cents to […] Read more


(File photo)

U.S. livestock: live cattle futures end mixed; feeders pressured as corn soars

Persistent poor pasture conditions pushing producers to place more cattle in feedlots: analysts

Chicago | Reuters – Live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Group closed mixed on Monday, with nearby contracts pressured by surging feed grain prices and bearish data in Friday’s monthly U.S. Cattle on Feed report. CME August live cattle futures LCQ3 settled down 1.275 cents at 178.750 cents per pound and most-active October LCV3 […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: tight supplies continue to underpin feeder complex 

Feedlot operators shrug off past week's rally in the corn market

Compared to last week, Western Canadian yearling markets traded $2-$5/cwt higher on average while calves were up $5/cwt to as much as $10/cwt in some cases. Feather light calves under 500 pounds reached fresh historical highs with 300-400 pound steers trading from $400-$450/cwt in Southern Alberta.  Finishing feedlots continue to be aggressive on yearlings for […] Read more