Chicago | Reuters — U.S. hog futures fell on Wednesday, turning lower on a round of profit-taking after the most-active December contract hit its highest in more than three weeks early in the trading session.
Cattle futures were mixed, with live cattle contracts easing for the second day in a row while feeder cattle futures bounced from the five-week low hit on Tuesday.
CME October lean hogs closed 1.05 cents lower at 94.7 cents/lb., while December hogs shed 0.4 cent to end at 85.3 cents/lb. (all figures US$).
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October live cattle dropped 0.45 cent, to 144.35 cents/lb., and December dropped 0.4 cent to close at 150.05 cents/lb.
October feeders rose one cent to close at 181.525 cents/lb.
Meat processors slaughtered about 484,000 hogs on Wednesday, the most since Nov. 17. A year ago, hog slaughter was reported at 472,000, according to daily U.S. government data.
Cattle slaughter was reported at 126,000 head, up from 119,000 in the comparable period in 2021.
— Reporting for Reuters by Mark Weinraub in Chicago.
