Reading Time: 3 minutes The COVID-19 outbreak gives us time to reflect on how we do things with our livestock. Cattle producers are in the unique situation in the sense we all know about infectious disease — and mitigating risk. From now on, it won’t be as hard to explain to people how we don’t want visitors, especially around […] Read more

Cattle sector knows about learning and adapting
Infectious disease is a constant risk on ranches and feedlots, and we know how to reduce the threat

U.S. livestock: Live cattle sag as wholesale beef prices retreat
Slaughter counts rising 'much faster than anticipated'
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures fell on Tuesday, with the August contract hitting its lowest in nearly a month as the U.S. slaughter pace picked up, sending more beef into retail channels, traders said. Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) June live cattle settled down three cents at 95.3 cents/lb., while most-active August ended […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Lean hogs lower on China trade worries
CME live cattle close lower
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) lean hog futures fell Monday on worries that deteriorating relations between the United States and China, the world’s biggest pork importer, could inhibit U.S. pork sales to the Asian nation, traders said. China told state-owned firms to halt purchases of soybeans and pork from the United States, […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures end lower ahead of weekend
CME lean hogs mostly up
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures retreated on Friday in a profit-taking and technical selling setback ahead of the weekend amid weakening beef prices and concerns about lower-than-normal summer demand as much of the economy remains partially closed. Lean hog futures clawed back earlier losses to end mostly higher as an early drop […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Lean hogs lower on China tensions
CME live cattle futures mostly higher
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures dropped by as much as the daily trading limit on Thursday on worries that rising tensions between Washington and Beijing could limit U.S. pork purchases by China, the world’s largest pork consumer. Sino-U.S. relations have worsened as the White House has threatened China with sanctions over its […] Read more

Klassen: Feeder cattle markets reflect mixed tone
U.S. corn offered into southern Alberta
Compared to the previous week, western Canadian yearling prices were $2-$4 higher on average while calves traded unchanged to as much as $8 lower. Larger feedlot operations were actively bidding for 800-plus-lb. feeders across the Prairies due to the limited supply. Lower volumes were available this past week which was supportive for the market. Southern […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Cattle rise on economic optimism, discount to cash prices
U.S.-China tensions keep hogs in check
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. cattle futures rallied for a second straight day on Wednesday as easing coronavirus restrictions around the country bolstered optimism about the outlook for the economy and beef demand. U.S. stocks rose, with the S+P 500 closing above 3,000 for the first time since March 5, as further easing of lockdowns […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Cattle, hog futures follow equities higher
August feeder cattle close limit-up
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. cattle and hog futures rallied on Tuesday in tandem with rising stock markets as optimism about developing coronavirus vaccines and the revival of business activity buoyed livestock markets battered by the coronavirus pandemic. Supportive cattle and meat supply data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture late last week showing accelerated […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Live and feeder cattle futures slip
Thursday's cold storage data seen as disappointing
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live and feeder cattle futures closed lower on Friday after disappointing cold storage data the previous day and ahead of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s cattle on feed report in the afternoon. Lean hog futures also dropped, as backups continue at slaughter facilities, traders said. The nearby CME live cattle […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Hogs, live cattle gain against cash markets
Cold storage meat supplies down slightly, USDA says
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live hog futures gained on Thursday on short-covering as contracts strengthened against cash markets, traders said. CME live cattle futures firmed, while feeder cattle dipped ahead of Friday’s U.S. Department of Agriculture cattle on feed report. The nearby CME June lean hogs gained 2.475 cents, to 59.35 cents/lb., while the […] Read more