(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle rally limit-up before report

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures settled up by their three-cent/lb. price limit Friday, driven by short-covering and technical buying, traders said. Investors tweaked positions ahead of Friday’s U.S. Department of Agriculture monthly Cattle on Feed report at 2 p.m. CT. Spot December ended at 120.15 cents, and February 125.525 cents, […] Read more

(USDA.gov via Flickr)

U.S. Nov. feedlot cattle placements slump to record low

Chicago | Reuters –– Cattle movement into U.S. feedlots in November fell 11 per cent from a year ago to their lowest level since the government began compiling the data in 1996, a U.S. Department of Agriculture report showed on Friday. Analysts attributed last month’s much smaller-than-expected placements to deteriorating margins that prompted feedyards to […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle slide before USDA report

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures lost modest ground on Friday, amid caution ahead of Friday afternoon’s cash prices and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s monthly Cattle on Feed report, traders said. Analysts expect the report to show fewer cattle placed into feedlots last month than a year ago. Spot December […] Read more



(Canada Beef Inc. photo)

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



(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: Bargain hunting, USDA report boost CME live cattle

Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures finished higher on Monday, fueled by bargain hunting and short-covering following a four-day losing streak, traders said. Spot-October closed one cent per pound higher at 137 cents, and December ended up 1.375 cents, to 139.75. Traders said CME live cattle were further supported by Friday’s […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: CME cattle repeat lows before USDA report

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures on Friday sank to new contract lows, and hit their lowest in 16 months, for a third consecutive session, pressured by lackluster wholesale beef demand, traders said. Investors exercised caution before the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s monthly Cattle on Feed report today at 2 p.m. […] Read more


(USDA.gov via Flickr)

Fewer cattle placed in U.S. feedlots in May than anticipated

Chicago | Reuters –– The number of cattle placed in U.S. feedlots last month was lower than anticipated, a government report showed on Friday, reflecting healthy pastures that allowed ranchers to grow livestock longer outside of feedyards, said analysts. Producers retained more heifers to help restore the U.S. cattle herd, now at its third lowest […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

Klassen: Feeder cattle prices remain firm

Western Canadian feeder cattle prices were steady to $2 higher on average with limited sales occurring this past week. The Livestock Markets Association of Canada held its annual convention in Winnipeg on the weekend, so many sales barns were quiet. The market at this time of year is characterized by small packages of various quality, […] Read more