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

U.S. livestock: Live cattle, lean hogs set new contract highs

June hogs turn lower before close

Chicago | Reuters — Strong meat demand pushed U.S. live cattle and lean hog futures to new contract highs on Monday. The cattle market benefited from increasing demand for beef as the U.S. is entering the summer grilling season, analysts said. Prices for choice cuts of boxed beef soared by $5.82, to $258.67/cwt, while select […] Read more

CME June 2021 lean hogs (candlesticks) with Bollinger (20,2) bands and CME lean hog index (black line). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Lean hog futures notch contract highs

Chicago live cattle retreat

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures rose on Thursday, with several contract months including the benchmark June setting life-of-contract highs on firm cash markets and strong demand for pork, traders said. Chicago Mercantile Exchange June lean hogs settled up 1.025 cents at 106.325 cents/lb., after recording a contract high at 106.725 cents (all […] Read more


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

U.S. livestock: Limit-up grains pressure feeder cattle, lean hogs

Beef demand supports CME live cattle

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. feeder cattle futures dropped on Wednesday, reacting to limit-up gains in corn and soybean futures that will translate to higher livestock feed costs as grain users compete for tight supplies, traders said. On the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the most-active May feeder cattle contract finished 2.8 cents lower at 149.4 cents […] Read more

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

U.S. livestock: Lean hog futures rise as cash market firms

Rally pauses in CME cattle futures

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures rose on Tuesday, with the benchmark June contract setting a life-of-contract high on firm cash hog prices and signs of tightening supplies at a time of robust demand for pork, analysts said. On the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, most-active June lean hog futures settled up 0.8 cent at […] Read more


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

U.S. livestock: Firm beef prices lead cattle futures higher

CME lean hogs' rally pauses

Chicago | Reuters — Benchmark live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange climbed to a contract high on Monday, led by firming wholesale beef prices as the summer grilling season approaches with the U.S. economy seems poised to rebound from the coronavirus pandemic, traders said. Feeder cattle futures also set contract highs. CME April […] Read more

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

U.S. livestock: Hog futures notch new highs on tight supply

Cattle futures firm on cash values

Chicago | Reuters — Lean hog futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange found life-of-contract highs for a second day on Friday after the U.S. Agriculture Department reported tight supplies in its quarterly hogs and pigs report after the close Thursday. CME April lean hogs settled up 1.125 cents at 100.8 cents/lb., after reaching a contract […] Read more


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

U.S. livestock: Lean hog futures climb as processing slows

Live cattle steady as beef prices level off

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures continued higher on Wednesday, reaching a 6-1/2 year high as optimism for consumer demand increases against tighter hog supplies. CME April lean hogs closed 1.3 cents higher at 97.775 cents/lb., after notching a life-of-contract high at 97.925 cents, while the most-active June contract added 0.8 […] 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

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