CME April 2023 feeder cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME feeder cattle climb to another contract high

April live cattle lower, lean hogs up

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange feeder cattle futures reached a contract high for a second consecutive session on Tuesday, while live cattle futures retreated from a contract high set a day earlier, brokers said. Reduced U.S. herd sizes due to drought have propelled futures higher recently, though some brokers said supply concerns have […] Read more

CME April 2023 feeder cattle with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME feeder cattle set contract high on tightening supplies

Chicago live cattle also up, lean hogs down

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange feeder cattle futures jumped to a new contract high on Monday on firm cash prices and increasing concerns about reduced U.S. herd numbers, analysts said. Traders focused on tighter cattle supplies as demand from meatpackers for livestock to slaughter remained strong. Ranchers have reduced herd sizes due to […] Read more


CME April 2023 live cattle with 10-day moving average and Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle, hogs rally on strong outside markets

Weather forecast also supportive

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange hog and cattle futures rose sharply on Friday, as gains in outside markets bolstered optimism about the economy and consumer demand for beef and pork, traders said. Concerns that a late winter storm forecast for the U.S. Midwest this weekend could disrupt supply chains added support to livestock […] Read more

CME April 2023 live cattle with 10-, 20- and 50-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle, hogs ease on weak exports

Boxed beef prices seen firm

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle and hog futures fell on Thursday, with signs of weakening export demand for beef and pork pressuring prices. Traders also said the cattle market was still ripe for profit taking even after falling on Wednesday. The U.S. Agriculture Department said on Thursday morning export sales of beef […] Read more


CME April 2023 live cattle with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle, hog futures drop but declines limited

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures weakened on Wednesday, with profit taking noted as prices remained near multi-year highs hit during February. Strength in the cash market limited the declines. Hog futures also were weaker but the market remained underpinned by hopes that recent weakness in soybeans and corn will cut […] Read more

Expiration day for CME’s February 2023 live cattle contract, with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures strong

Lean hog futures close mixed

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures ended firm on Tuesday, with the front-month contract hitting its highest in more than eight years as tight supplies continued to underpin the market. Hog futures ended mixed. Expectations for strong cash prices for the next few months due to tight supplies supported cattle futures. […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Calves jump on corn outlook

Softer barley values underpin yearling market

Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $5 to as much as $12 above week-ago levels. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis in the range of $332-$335 delivered, up $5-$8 from last week. Stronger fed cattle prices and softer barley values underpinned the yearling market. Buyers were finicky […] Read more

CME April 2023 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures dip on profit-taking

Chicago lean hog futures also fall

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures eased on Monday, with a mild round of profit-taking pulling prices from eight-year highs. But concerns about tight supplies limited the selling. Hog futures also were weaker, pressured by a government report that showed robust stocks of pork. Thinly traded February live cattle futures dipped […] Read more


CME April 2023 live cattle with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle consolidate after hitting new contract high

Chicago lean hogs end lower

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures consolidated on Friday after setting a string on contract highs recently, while lean hog futures eased. The cattle market looks ripe for a correction after futures rose this month on tightening U.S. supplies, brokers said. However, cattle inventories look even smaller than expected as ranchers […] Read more

CME April 2023 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME cattle set high on Brazil halting beef exports to China

April hogs close lower, June up

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures reached a contract high on Thursday amid hopes that Chinese importers will buy more U.S. beef after rival supplier Brazil suspended shipments to China, analysts said. Brazil said it would halt beef exports to China, the main destination for its overseas shipments, after confirming a […] Read more