(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. December feedlot cattle placements hit six-year high

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. feedlots brought in 18 per cent more cattle in December than the year-earlier month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Friday, which topped forecasts and reached a six-year high for that month. Higher prices for slaughter-ready, or cash, cattle last month improved profit for feedlots. That allowed them to […] Read more



(CMEGroup.com)

U.S. livestock: CME hogs tumble after again nearing six-month high

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hogs ended sharply lower on Thursday pressured by weaker initial cash prices and fund liquidation, but not before futures approached a six-month high for a second straight session, said traders. February hogs ended 1.675 cents/lb. lower at 65.85 cents (all figures US$). April closed 2.925 cents lower […] Read more


(Gloria Solano-Aguilar photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

U.S. livestock: CME lean hogs surge to near six-month high

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hogs on Wednesday climbed to their highest level in almost six months, fuelled by short-covering following strong cash and wholesale pork prices, said traders. Technical buying developed after February and March futures surpassed their respective 10-day moving averages of 65.662 and 69.023 cents (all figures US$). February […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle slide on cash price unease

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures settled lower on Tuesday, weighed by caution ahead of this week’s cash prices, said traders. They said sell stops and technical selling contributed to market losses. February live cattle closed 0.575 cents/lb. lower at 119.675 cents (all figures US$). April finished 0.775 cent lower at […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle end four-day win streak

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures settled in negative territory on Friday for the first time in five days, led by sell stops and profit-taking, said traders. They said fund buying and futures’ discounts to this week’s cash prices later lifted contracts from session lows. February live cattle closed 0.775 cent/lb. […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: Cash prices push CME live cattle higher

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures moved higher for a fourth straight session on Thursday, driven by this week’s cash price surge, traders said. February live cattle closed 0.75 cent/lb. higher at 121.025 cents, and April closed up 0.475 cent, to 119.875 cents (all figures US$). Both contracts notched 10-month highs […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: Cash prices boost live cattle to 10-month high

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange nearby live cattle contracts on Tuesday climbed to their highest level in 10 months after investors digested last week’s better-than-expected cash prices, traders said. February live cattle closed 1.05 cents/lb. higher at 119.575 cents, and April up 1.075 cents, to 119 cents. “It was a good cash market […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder cattle prices lukewarm on mixed factors

Western Canadian feeder cattle markets were steady to $2 higher compared to week-ago levels. All weight classes experienced lukewarm buying interest, despite improving margins in the feedlot sector. Most auction barns experienced minimal numbers; cow-calf producers are holding back on sales hoping for stronger values and extreme cold temperatures hindered cattle movement, especially in the […] Read more