(Regis Lefebure photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

U.S. livestock: Burdensome supplies slam lean hog futures

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures fell sharply on Wednesday, with some contracts posting new lows, led by profit-taking and seasonally rising hog numbers, traders said. Cooler fall temperatures in the Midwest and highly-nutritious new-crop corn are causing pigs to grow faster. The U.S. Department of Agriculture data on Wednesday showed […] Read more


U.S. livestock: Live cattle post biggest daily percentage gain in a year

U.S. livestock: Live cattle post biggest daily percentage gain in a year

Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures surged about three per cent on Tuesday to their best one-day performance since October 2015, sparked by short-covering and technical buying, said traders. Prior to Tuesday’s open, CME live cattle contracts displayed a Relative Strength Index (RSI) of 27. A RSI below 30 suggests a […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Prolonged negative margins weigh on feeder market

Western Canadian feeder cattle prices traded $5-$10 lower last week, with certain auction barns experiencing a week-over-week decline of $15. After 15 months of devastating margins, feedlots have thrown in the towel. If one of the largest, most sophisticated and efficient feedlots shuts the doors, the smaller players are wondering what they’re doing in this […] Read more


(Regis Lefebure photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

U.S. livestock: Bargain buying rallies CME lean hogs

Chicago | Reuters — Most Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog contracts ended sharply higher on Monday, fueled by bargain buying following futures’ plunge by their three-cent/lb. price limit on Friday, said traders. October, which will expire on Oct. 14, closed down 0.1 cent/lb. at 48.925 cents (all figures US$). Most-actively traded December ended 0.2 cent […] Read more




(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: Cattle, hogs mostly higher on short-covering

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. cattle and hog futures were mostly higher on Wednesday, with feeder cattle rallying about one per cent on short-covering following recent lows, traders msaid. Several Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog contracts fell to lifetime lows before trimming losses as traders squared up their positions ahead of a quarterly U.S. hog […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle plunge limit down

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures on Tuesday slumped, with nearby contracts down the three cents/lb. daily price limit, rattled by fund selling and uneasiness before cash prices by Friday, said traders. October and December settled down by the three-cent limit to 103.825 and 103.125 cents, respectively (all figures US$). Live […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder cattle market experiences mixed tone

Western Canadian feeder cattle markets experienced a diverse tone across the Prairies, with notable buying interest surfacing on yearlings. Compared to seven days earlier, prices for yearlings in southern Alberta were $5-$7 higher on average, as feedlots focused on purchasing local cattle. In southern Alberta, larger-frame lower-flesh black steers weighing 900 lbs. were quoted at […] Read more