CME April 2023 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle post near-eight-year highs

Firming cash prices support February, April live cattle; hogs lower

Chicago | Reuters — Benchmark live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange set life-of-contract highs on Friday and the front contract hit its highest since 2015 as shrinking cattle supplies lifted cash prices, traders said. Market-ready cattle traded in southern Plains cash markets at $160-$162 per hundredweight (cwt), traders said, steady to $2 higher […] Read more

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Bird flu prompts AgriStability invite

Reading Time: < 1 minute Alberta poultry producers have until the end of February to sign up for the 2002 edition of AgriStability. The deadline for the income stabilization program was extended because of avian influenza outbreaks, the provincial government said. There have been 60 operations (commercial and non-commercial) in the province infected, with 1.4 million domesticated birds “impacted.” Many […] Read more


CME April 2023 lean hogs with 20- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hogs, most live cattle lower

Feeder cattle futures also down

Chicago lean hog and cattle futures closed mainly lower Thursday with the exception of front-month February live cattle, which remained on its record-setting upward slope. CME February live cattle finished up 0.225 cent at 162.775 cents/lb., extending the nearly-eight-year high on a continuous chart of the front contract (all figures US$). Most actively-traded April live […] Read more

CME February 2023 live cattle with 20-day moving average and April (dark red line) and June (black line) 2023 live cattle. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME spot live cattle futures near eight-year top

Deferred-month cattle, lean hogs lower

Chicago | Reuters — Front-month live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange reached a near eight-year high on Wednesday, supported by tightening U.S. cattle supplies and rising wholesale beef prices, while the most actively traded contracts drifted lower as market players awaited more direction from cash cattle markets. CME’s spot February live cattle futures […] Read more


File photo of wild birds in flight over a lake in Uruguay. (Paz Roca/iStock/Getty Images)

More South American nations report bird flu cases

Brazil still remains free of contagion

Sao Paulo | Reuters — The confirmation of more bird flu cases in South America raised alarm bells in Brazil, which remains free of contagion even after its close neighbours Argentina and Uruguay confirmed cases there on Wednesday. In a press conference to discuss the global sanitary hazard, Brazilian Agriculture Minister Carlos Favaro said Brazil, […] Read more

CME February 2023 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle ease on profit-taking

February cattle lower after nearing eight-year top; hogs follow cash prices higher

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures closed lower on Tuesday on profit-taking after rising to the highest levels in nearly eight years, with worries about the health of the U.S. economy adding to bearish sentiment, analysts said. Benchmark April live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange settled down 0.425 cent at 164.675 […] Read more


Dr. Tommy Ware became a fan of the Sandhills calving system after learning about it from one of its creators when he was at veterinary school at Mississippi State.

Splitting up the nursery can have a big health payoff for calves

The Sandhills calving system is a simple way to lower the risk of scours

Reading Time: 4 minutes The Sandhills calving system can help producers reduce scours during calving season. Eight client ranches are trying the method, which is used south of the border but isn’t too common in Canada, said Dr. Tommy Ware of Veterinary Agri-Health Services. So far, it’s been a success. “Sandhills is our way of managing scours risk. Instead […] Read more

CME May 2023 feeder cattle (candlesticks) with 20-day moving average and CME March 2023 feeder cattle (brown O/H/L/C). (Barchart)

Klassen: Canadian feeder market rationing demand

Demand from Ontario remains aggressive

Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling prices were up $4-$6 while calf markets traded $6 to as much as $10 above week-ago levels. May feeder cattle futures are trading at a $8 premium to the nearby March contract. The carrying charge in the futures market has encouraged buyers to step forward sooner rather than […] Read more


CME April 2023 live cattle with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle near eight-year highs

Cash cattle markets firm up

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures climbed to contract and multi-year highs on Monday on optimism about firming cash cattle prices and tightening U.S. cattle supplies. Most-active April live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange settled up 1.15 cents at 165.1 cents/lb. after recording a contract high at 165.25 cents. Front-month February […] Read more

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Bill to keep supply management off trade table moving forward

CCA, other groups oppose proposal as Bloc MP's private bill passes second reading

A federal private member’s bill that would codify the current government’s promise to leave supply-managed ag commodities out of any future free trade deals has advanced to the committee stage. Introduced last June 13 by Bloc Quebecois MP Luc Theriault, Bill C-282 came back last Wednesday to pass second reading in the House of Commons […] Read more