CME May 2021 feeder cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

Klassen: Feeder market remains volatile

Feed grain values remain firm

Last week, western Canadian yearling markets were traded $2-$4 above week-ago levels from Monday through Wednesday; however, buyers backed away from the market on Thursday and Friday as feeder cattle futures fell nearly $7 from Wednesday’s high. By the end of the week, yearlings were relatively unchanged from week-ago levels. Calf prices were relatively flat […] Read more

CME April 2021 lean hogs with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Lean hog futures gain on tight supplies

CME cattle futures firm

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures firmed on Tuesday, marking the contract’s fifth gain in six days, pushed higher by increased demand for pork as restaurants reopen, while supplies remain low. “You have some supply-side influence on why the market is this good,” said Brad Kooima, commodity broker at Kooima Kooima […] Read more


CME June 2021 lean hogs with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Lean hogs ease but remain near highs

Live cattle follow boxed beef higher

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures stepped back on Monday but remained near recent highs as demand optimism persists, supported by tighter hog supplies. As the U.S. economy rebuilds and meat demand at restaurants increases into the summer, analysts expect supplies to remain tight for several months. “The deferred contracts should […] Read more

A recent survey commissioned by Canada Beef found that while Canadian beef is still strong on restaurant menus, there are opportunities to better promote it.

Beef trade gap seen growing as U.K. pact clears Parliament

Interim post-Brexit trade deal gets royal assent

Canada’s beef cattle producers are warning of a growing beef trade deficit, not only between Canada and the European Union but between Canada and the United Kingdom, as a new stopgap U.K. trade pact nears its launch. International Trade Minister Mary Ng on Friday announced Canada is ratifying the Canada-U.K. Trade Continuity Agreement (TCA), after […] Read more


CME June 2021 lean hogs with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Lean hogs resume climb on robust demand

Cattle down ahead of USDA report

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures ended mostly higher on Friday, rebounding from sharp declines the previous day as strong pork demand and tight hog supplies extended the market’s recent advance. Hog futures have soared in recent weeks, with April futures touching a 6-1/2 year front-month-contract high on Friday, as traders […] Read more

CME June 2021 live cattle with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle, hogs follow broader commodities markets lower

"We were a little top heavy coming in"

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle and hog futures posted steep losses in most contracts on Thursday as a broad-based commodities market selloff, led by sinking crude oil and a firmer U.S. dollar, weighed on prices. Fundamental factors for both cattle and hogs remained solid amid strong beef and pork exports and good […] Read more


CME April 2021 lean hogs with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Lean hogs climb to 6-1/2-year high

Cattle futures follow hogs higher

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures rallied for a second straight session on Wednesday and the spot contract rose to the highest in 6-1/2 years on elevated pork prices and expectations for continued strong pork export sales. Pork prices have been rising, led by higher pork belly values, as retailers and […] Read more

CME June 2021 lean hogs with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Lean hogs up on tightening hog supplies, strong pork demand

CME live cattle futures mixed

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures were mostly higher on Tuesday on lofty pork prices, tightening hog supplies and hopes for improved meat demand as economies begin to fully re-open after coronavirus pandemic shutdowns. Hog supplies have tightened following liquidation of the U.S. sow herd last year and some disease-related U.S. […] Read more


CME June 2021 live cattle with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures rise, hog futures weaken

Demand expected to rise on re-openings

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle futures rose on Monday supported by expectations of souped-up demand as economies begin to fully re-open after shutdowns related to COVID-19. “Cattle futures continue to price in better days ahead and the technical picture looks improved as well,” brokerage StoneX said in a statement. The most-active June […] Read more

CME April 2021 feeder cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME cattle end firm, hogs ease on profit-taking

Feeder cattle futures touch two-week top

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) live cattle futures edged higher on Friday on technical buying and as feeder cattle futures hit a two-week top on optimism about softening feed prices, analysts said. CME April live cattle settled up 0.475 cent at 119 cents/lb., holding above chart support at its 100-day moving average […] Read more