CME December 2020 lean hogs, with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Lean hogs fall on declining wholesale pork prices

Steady beef demand lifts cattle futures

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures fell on Wednesday on weaker wholesale pork prices, while cattle futures advanced on steady beef demand, traders said. The U.S. pork cutout, an indication of wholesale pork prices, fell by $4.31, to $84.52/cwt, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (all figures US$). Prices eased for pork […] Read more

A new Public and Stakeholder Engagement program is designed to reach out to consumers proactively, rather than just responding to attacks on the beef sector.

Change, change and more change coming to Alberta Beef Producers

A long-planned major revamp is taking place at a time when producers simply can’t get together

Reading Time: 3 minutes It might be easier to tally up what isn’t new as Alberta Beef Producers heads towards the conclusion of a year that has seen unprecedented change. The pandemic has, of course, been the big one, but the province’s largest cattle organization is also implementing a major revamp of its entire governance structure at a time […] Read more


CME December 2020 live cattle with Bollinger bands (20,2) and 100-day moving average (brown line). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Live cattle rebound as trade adjusts to supply shock

Hogs lower, cash market supportive

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures rebounded on Tuesday, as packers kept processing at a higher-than-usual pace, despite a bearish Cattle on Feed report, traders said. Meanwhile, hog futures eased slightly on Tuesday, as falling cutout prices have carved into packer margins, traders said. CME December live cattle futures gained 0.65 cent to […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder market grinds lower

'Is there no grain in this country?'

Compared to last week, prices for western Canadian yearlings weighing over 900 lbs. were down $4-$8 on average; yearlings weighing between 800-900 lbs. were down $2-$4; calves under 800 lbs. were down $8-$12, with the exception of Manitoba, where lighter calves traded $3-$5 below week-ago levels. Feedlot operators are asking, is there no grain in […] Read more


CME December 2020 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Live cattle hit lowest price since June under supply pressure

December lean hogs close up off recent low

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures fell on Monday, with the most-active contract touching its lowest price since June under pressure from a larger-than-expected number of cattle on feed in the United States, traders said. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, in a monthly report issued after the markets closed on Friday, said 11.7 […] Read more

Lana Popham. (B.C. NDP via Flickr, license at Creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)

B.C. ag minister, critic expected to win re-election

NDP projected to form majority government

British Columbia’s incumbent agriculture minister and opposition ag critic both appear set to head back to the provincial legislature as the New Democrats are projected to end three years of tentative minority governing. John Horgan’s NDP, which in 2017 overturned a minority Liberal government with the help of the Green Party, was projected Saturday evening […] Read more


CME December 2020 live cattle (candlesticks) and January 2021 feeder cattle (red line). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hog, live cattle futures up on bargain buying

USDA Cattle on Feed data tops expectations

Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog and live cattle futures rose on Friday on some bargain buying ahead of the weekend. Hog futures snapped a three-session losing streak, the longest for the December contract in five weeks, while live cattle rebounded from its lowest since June 29. CME December lean hogs rose […] Read more

CME December 2020 lean hogs with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hog futures fall for third day in a row

USDA report expected to show more cattle on feed

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures fell for the third day in a row on Thursday, with traders saying they expected the recent surge of Chinese demand for pork to fade as the world’s top consumer rebuilds its decimated hog herd. “I increasingly see more attention paid to deteriorating long-term export […] Read more


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

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures mixed

CME lean hog futures ease

Chicago | Reuters — CME live cattle futures eased on Wednesday, retreating back toward seven-week lows hit on Monday after a bargain buying bounce fizzled as plentiful supplies remained the focus of investors. Feeder cattle futures were slightly higher following the front-month contract’s decline to its lowest since July 1 on Tuesday. “The cattle are […] Read more

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

U.S. livestock: Hogs fall on profit-taking, cattle firm on bargain buying

Concerns for beef demand still drag on cattle futures

Chicago | Reuters — CME livestock futures were mixed on Tuesday, with hog contracts falling on a round of profit taking while cattle contracts firmed on bargain buying. The benchmark December lean hog contract faced pressure after hitting its highest since Sept. 13, 2019, while February live cattle, which had fallen for four days in […] Read more