Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets were relatively unchanged. Weakness in deferred live cattle futures and uncertainty in the feed grain market tempered the upside for all weight categories of replacement cattle. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed basis in the range of $288-$290 delivered, steady to $2 lower […] Read more
Klassen: Steady demand supports feeder cattle prices
U.S. livestock: Cattle, hog futures fall as feed costs rise
Pre-Memorial Day consolidation seen
Chicago | Reuters — CME Group hog and cattle futures eased on Friday, with rising soy and corn futures raising feed costs for livestock producers. Traders noted consolidation trade ahead of the U.S. Memorial Day holiday weekend. U.S. grain and livestock markets will be closed on Monday. The nearby June hogs contract fell 0.7 cent, […] Read more
U.S. livestock: June hogs touch four-week high
June, August live cattle futures up slightly
Chicago | Reuters — CME Group hog futures rose to their highest level in more than a month on Thursday, supported by strong exports and concerns about a slowing slaughter, traders said. Cattle futures ended the trading day close to unchanged. The U.S. Agriculture Department on Thursday morning said that export sales of pork totaled […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Cattle futures weaken on cash market pressure
CME hog futures close mixed
Chicago | Reuters — CME Group cattle futures dipped on Wednesday, pressured by weakness in the cash markets, traders said. Hog futures were mixed, with prices closing well off their session highs after contracts hit technical resistance. The nearby June hogs contract rose 0.025 cent to 109.05 cents/lb., while most-active July futures fell 1.1 cents, […] Read more
Be strategic when rebuilding your cattle herd following drought
Rebuilding your herd with your own heifers will be the best option for most operations
Reading Time: 4 minutes Producers who were forced to cull their herds during last year’s drought may need years to rebuild their herds back to pre-drought levels. “When the drought hit last summer, one of the questions that came up was what if guys had to cull really hard,” said Brenna Grant, executive director of Canfax. “Every operation has […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Hog futures fall as supplies rise
CME live cattle turn lower
Chicago | Reuters — CME hog futures eased on Tuesday, pressured by a government report released after the close on Monday that showed supplies of pork at their highest in two years. The U.S. Agriculture Department on Monday afternoon said that frozen stocks of pork stood at 530.244 million lbs. as of April 30, up […] Read more
Klassen: Canadian feeder market divorces from feeder cattle futures
Timing of new-crop feed grains leads to shift
Compared to last week western Canadian yearling markets traded $3-$4 on either side of unchanged. The quality was quite variable resulting in the wide price structure; however, decent genetic and lower flesh packages were red hot. Feedlot operators were extremely aggressive on 700- to 800-lb. steers although higher weight categories were also well bid. Auction […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME hog futures rise on export prospects
Chicago cattle futures also gain
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange hog futures rose on Monday, with the front-month contract hitting its highest since April 22, on expectations for a pick-up in demand from top pork consumer China, traders said. The most-active July hog futures contract ended firm for the sixth time in the last seven sessions, but faced […] Read more
U.S. livestock: August live cattle, feeders ease on USDA report
Chicago lean hog futures firm
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures were mixed on Friday, with the nearby contract firming while the most-active month eased, pressured by expectations of increased cattle placements in the U.S. Agriculture Department’s monthly assessment. U.S. feedlots held two per cent more cattle on May 1 versus the same time a year […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle mixed as traders await USDA data
Lean hog futures turn lower
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures ended mixed on Thursday as traders awaited U.S. Department of Agriculture data on the number of cattle in feedlots. USDA’s Cattle on Feed report, due Friday at 2 p.m. CT, is expected to show U.S. feedlots held 1.3 per cent more on May 1, compared […] Read more
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