Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures finished higher on Wednesday on technical buying and as rising U.S. slaughter rates eased concerns about cattle supply backups. Cattle processing rates have ramped up after pandemic-related staffing shortages at some meat plants. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimated Wednesday’s cattle slaughter at 118,000 […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle up on improved slaughter pace
Lean hogs down on profit-taking
U.S. livestock: CME lean hogs hit new contract high on slim supply
CME April live cattle up slightly
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures climbed to a new contract high on Tuesday on concerns about tightening U.S. supplies, analysts said. Nearby live cattle and feeder cattle futures also strengthened. U.S. cold storage data, issued after the markets closed on Monday, was supportive for hog and cattle futures, analysts said. […] Read more
Just scan the code and chow down
Reading Time: < 1 minute Canada Beef is calling new scannable codes on beef packages “its most ambitious initiative to date.” When scanned with a smartphone, the codes (either the UPC code or a QR code) brings up a “digital profile” that offers recommended cooking methods, recipes and cooking videos, and nutritional/food safety/storage info. The goal is threefold, says the […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market softens on tight feed grain supply
Ontario buying interest subsides
Compared to last week, prices for yearling steers were down $2-$4 while yearling heifers were down $4 to as much as $8. Calf markets were down $3-$6 from last week. Negative feeding margins, colder temperatures and tight feed grain supplies were the three main factors setting a negative tone in the feeder market. Rail imports […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME cattle sink to November lows
Lean hogs set contract high
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle futures tumbled on Monday as investors reduced risk and after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) last week confirmed producers placed more animals into feedlots in December, analysts said. USDA said cattle producers placed 1.96 million head in feedlots last month, up six per cent from a […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Hog futures surge to highest in over three months
U.S. cattle counts up from last year
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange hog futures rose 1.5 per cent on Friday to hit their highest since mid-October, extending a rally on technical buying. Traders remained focused on the slaughter rate as COVID-19 disruptions have caused slowdowns at meat processors throughout the month. “The industry still isn’t functioning normally, though the processing […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Hog futures touch highest since mid-October
CME cattle futures down on day
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange hog futures jumped to their highest in more than three months on Thursday, supported by strength in the cash markets, traders said. Most actively traded February lean hogs rose 2.625 cents, to 84.925 cents/lb. (all figures US$). The front-month contract closed just below its session peak of 84.975 […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Cattle and hog futures firm
Meat supplies remain tight
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle and hog futures rose on Wednesday, with tight supplies supporting prices after a slowdown in the pace of slaughter. Most actively traded February lean hogs rose 0.7 cent, to 82.3 cents/lb. Hog futures have risen for three days in a row, their longest streak of gains […] Read more
South Korea lifts temporary suspension of Canadian beef
Reuters — South Korea is lifting its temporary suspension of Canadian beef imports that it imposed after Canada detected a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in December, federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau said Wednesday. South Korea halted the shipments after Canada last month reported its first BSE case in six years. China and the […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME cattle futures weak
Hog futures firm
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures fell on Tuesday, with mild profit-taking noted after rallying in three of the previous four sessions. Hog futures were firmer, extending their rebound from the five-week low hit last week. Most actively traded February lean hogs rose 0.7 cent to 81.6 cents/lb. (all figures US$). […] Read more