Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures on Thursday hit a 16-month bottom, falling to contract lows for a second straight session, on lower wholesale beef values and further cash price weakness, traders said. Spot-October closed 0.75 cent/lb. lower at 136.85 cents, and earlier marked a contract low of 136.525 (all figures […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live, feeder cattle ease to 16-month low
Pork prices set to soften, analyst says
CNS Canada — As the North American barbecue season winds down for another year, so too goes some strength in the pork market. For instance, cash slaughter-weight hogs in Saskatchewan, based on the Maple Leaf Signature #3 contract, averaged $162.55/cwt last week, down $7.95 (4.7 per cent) per 100 kg, according to Brad Marceniuk, a […] Read more
Study alleges U.S. fast food still mostly raised on antibiotics
Los Angeles | Reuters –– Most large U.S. fast-food chains still serve meat from farm animals that have been routinely fed antibiotics, consumer groups said in a new report, which concluded that many companies have not yet laid out plans to curb the practice. Subway, Starbucks, KFC and Domino’s Pizza were among the industry leaders […] Read more
Yukon to help cover livestock vets’ travel costs
The Yukon government has launched a pilot program to help cover veterinarians’ travel and service expenses for farm calls. The territory government on Tuesday announced it will accept up to 30 farmers for the pilot of the Veterinary Services Program, running from now to the end of March 2016. The program will reimburse participating veterinarians […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME hogs climb as cash prices firm
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hogs climbed four per cent on Tuesday, pulled up by short-covering following the recent bump in cash prices that may have ended their two-week losing streak, traders said. Spot October ended up 2.55 cents/lb. at 69.375, and December 1.6 cents higher at 63.85 (all figures US$). Tuesday […] Read more
How the pork sector survived the attack of a killer virus
PEDv decimated the U.S. hog herd, but Canada showed how to do biosecurity right
Reading Time: 4 minutes If you want expert advice on biosecurity, talk to a Canadian hog farmer — and cattle producers should probably do just that. The country’s outstanding record on controlling the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus has a host of lessons for the cattle sector, says a swine veterinarian who was deeply involved in Alberta’s battle against PEDv. […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Short-covering pares early CME live cattle losses
Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle closed higher on Monday after short-covering trumped follow-through selling that initially pressed futures to a 15-month low, traders said. Spot-October closed up 0.875 cent/lb. at 141.475 cents, and December was 0.8 cent higher at 143.175 cents (all figures US$). October was further supported by fewer cattle […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Drops in cash, beef prices topple CME live cattle futures
Chicago/Reuters – Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures at one point on Friday matched their 15-month low, responding to slumping prices for wholesale beef and market-ready, or cash, cattle, traders said. Spot-October closed down 2.350 cents per lb to 140.600 cents, and December was 2.325 cents lower at 142.375 cents. This week, cash cattle in […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle fade with cash price hopes
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle posted modest losses on Thursday in anticipation of possibly lower prices for market-ready, or cash, cattle on Friday, traders said. Spot-October closed down 0.025 cent/lb. to 142.95 cents, and December 0.375 cent lower at 144.7 (all figures US$). Cash bids in Nebraska surfaced at $139-$140/cwt against […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Profit-taking trims CME live cattle gains
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle closed lower on Wednesday, after profit-taking and cash price uncertainty turned back initial advances, traders said. Spot-October closed 0.5 cent/lb. lower at 142.975 cents, and December dropped 0.7 cent to 145.075 (all figures US$). Packers have not bid for market-ready (cash) cattle priced at $146/cwt in […] Read more
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