Chicago | Reuters –– U.S. cattle futures fell as much as 2.5 per cent on Monday, with both live and feeder cattle contracts posting their largest daily declines in two weeks on ample supplies and expectations for improved weather in the southern Plains. Snow, ice and rains slowed movement of cattle to market last week […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Cattle fall most in two weeks on dry Plains forecast
U.S. livestock: Cattle up for week, first time since October
Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures edged higher on Friday, capping their first weekly gain in five weeks as wintry weather across the central U.S. slowed the movement of cattle to market. Storms from New Mexico to Illinois that brought ice, snow and pounding rain caused flooding, killing at least three […] Read more
Hog prices fighting for stability
CNS Canada — Canadian hog prices have been drifting slightly lower over the past few weeks but are showing signs of turning the corner, according to one industry expert in Saskatchewan. Brad Marceniuk, a provincial livestock development specialist in Saskatoon, said he expects prices to stabilize in the next couple of weeks as slaughter numbers […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Lean hogs hit three-week high as cash prices stabilize
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures jumped as much as two per cent on Wednesday, lifted by stabilizing cash prices and ideas the market may have bottomed out after hitting six-year lows earlier this month. Live cattle futures and feeder cattle also were higher in light-volume trading at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange ahead […] Read more
Maple Leaf to cut 400 middle-management jobs
Reuters — Maple Leaf Foods said Wednesday it would cut 400 management jobs, or about three per cent of its workforce, saying it was ready to streamline operations after starting up Canada’s biggest meat plant. Maple Leaf, one of the country’s biggest pork processors, said the majority of the job cuts would be completed by […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Cattle ease on profit-taking after one-week highs
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle and feeder cattle futures fell as much as 1.8 per cent on Tuesday as investors took profits after prices hit a one-week high in the previous session, traders and analysts said. A government report on Monday showing bigger beef supplies than a year ago also weighed on futures […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle snap back ahead of holiday
Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle contracts ended up sharply on Monday, driven by active short-covering as some investors prepare for Thanksgiving holiday vacations, traders said. “Some of these guys are so frustrated with market volatility and uncertainty that they’re looking forward to some time off,” a trader said. Spot December finished […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Lower beef quote undermines CME live cattle
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle closed lower on Thursday after profit-taking and a drop in the day’s wholesale beef price ended a two-day rally, traders said. Spot December and February finished 1.075 cents/lb. lower at 129.9 and 132.05 cents, respectively (all figures US$). Thursday morning’s wholesale choice beef price had fallen […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle extend gains
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures closed higher for a second day in a row Wednesday, helped by more short-covering as expectations improved regarding cash prices later this week, traders said. Spot December finished at 130.975 cents/lb., up 2.95 cents, and February 2.55 cents higher at 133.125 cents (all figures US$). […] Read more
New ‘superbug’ gene found in animals, people in China
London | Reuters — A new gene that makes bacteria highly resistant to a last-resort class of antibiotics has been found in people and pigs in China — including in samples of bacteria with epidemic potential, researchers said Wednesday. The discovery was described as “alarming” by scientists, who called for urgent restrictions on the use […] Read more
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