Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange hog futures ended lower on Friday, pressured by weaker prices for market-ready, or cash, hogs, with packing plants set to close on Memorial Day, traders said. The CME also will be closed on Monday in observance of the U.S. Memorial Day holiday. Cash hog prices felt more pressure […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME hog futures sag with cash prices before holiday
Mexico reports PEDv in 17 states out of 19 tested
Paris | Reuters — Mexico reported outbreaks of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv) in 17 states out of 19 tested, the World Animal Health Organization (OIE) said. Following reports of unusually high mortality, mainly in piglets, in the central-western part of the country, Mexican veterinary officials tested 2,309 samples between August 2013 and May 2014 […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME hog futures slump with cash prices, pork demand
Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange hogs closed lower on Thursday, pressured by weaker prices for market-ready or cash hogs pegged to plant closures during the U.S. Memorial Day holiday, trader said. They also cited the relapse in wholesale pork prices. Grocers bought all the product they need to accommodate grilling demand over the […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Fund buying rallies CME hog futures
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange hog futures closed higher on Wednesday, supported by short-covering and fund buying, traders said. Speculation about tight supplies ahead pegged to the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv) provided further support to futures that ignored Wednesday’s drop in market-ready hog and wholesale pork prices. The morning’s average hog price […] Read more
PEDv likely to ease in U.S. by year-end, OIE chief predicts
Paris | Reuters — A deadly pig virus that has decimated herds in the U.S. and sent prices rocketing is likely to subside before the end of this year as the causes are being identified, the head of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) said. Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv) has wiped out more […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Profit-taking undercuts CME live cattle
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures finished lower on Tuesday, pressured by profit-taking in anticipation of steady-to-lower prices for market-ready or cash cattle this week, traders said. Plant closures during the U.S. Memorial Day holiday will lessen their need for supplies, they said. Processors curbed slaughters to avoid spending more for […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Tight supply outlook rallies CME feeder cattle to new high
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange feeder cattle futures on Monday clocked a new high for a fourth straight session, partly driven by expectations for tighter numbers of calves ahead, traders said. Feedlots are spending more for calves, or feeder cattle, made scarce after several years of drought in the U.S. sent the herd […] Read more
B.C. plans for PEDv prevention
The federal and British Columbia governments are putting up funding for the province’s pork sector to fend off porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) before it arrives there. The two levels of government on Thursday pledged $613,050 from the Growing Forward 2 (GF2) ag policy funding framework for “increased surveillance and preventative measures” to keep livestock diseases […] Read more
Weather weighs in with virus on U.S. hog weights
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. hogs have started to shed pounds after hitting record weights recently and the trend may continue with warmer weather, underpinning prices for market-ready hogs that have slid 15 per cent in 1-1/2 months from their all-time highs. Hog weights rose to a record high 287.5 lbs. for the week of […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle gain ahead of USDA report
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle gained modestly on Friday as investors tweaked positions before the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s cattle-on-feed report at 2 p.m. CT, traders said. Analysts expect the data to show cattle placements last month declined from April 2013 after several years of drought in parts of the U.S. […] Read more