Chicago | Reuters — The Chicago Mercantile Exchange’s spot live cattle futures eased on Friday, after prices in some cash cattle markets dipped lower than last week, traders said. Still, traders cautioned, the spread between cash and deferred futures prices remains wide — a spread that could tighten in the coming weeks as the U.S. […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME cattle mixed, cash-futures spread remains wide
Hogs firm after touching new lows
U.S. livestock: Volatility roils CME cattle market
Chicago lean hog futures slump
Chicago | Reuters — The Chicago Mercantile Exchange’s cattle futures saw a second day of volatile trading on Thursday, with wide trading ranges and weaker technicals resulting in the spot live cattle contract turning lower, analysts said. One key reason, traders said, is that a white-hot cash market may have hit its limit. Cattle sold […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME lean hogs touch new lows on fat supplies
Live cattle down on profit-taking, feeder cattle touch fresh highs
Chicago | Reuters — Choppy trade roiled the Chicago Mercantile Exchange’s livestock markets on Wednesday, while bountiful pork supplies and questions over consumer demand sent five of lean hog contracts slumping to new contract lows. The hog market turned sharply down, traders said, as the sector continues to wrestle with weak cash prices and larger-than-expected […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME feeder cattle hit new highs
Chicago lean hogs hit new low
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange’s April and May feeder cattle futures hit fresh contract highs on Tuesday on tight supplies, as analysts said they expected cattle placements to continue to trend down, traders said. Meanwhile, CME May lean hogs hit a contract low of 78.5 cents/lb., before closing down 2.175 cents at 78.825 […] Read more
Foot-and-mouth vaccine bank cheered by livestock groups
An outbreak would slam the border shut and vaccinations would be key in re-opening it
Reading Time: 2 minutes Livestock groups are hailing Ottawa’s pledge to set up a foot-and-mouth disease vaccine bank. “The Canadian beef industry breathed a collective sigh of relief to learn a foot-and-mouth disease vaccine bank is on the horizon,” Alberta Beef Producers said in a report on its website. Livestock organizations have been asking for a vaccine bank for […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME feeder cattle hit new highs on supplies, cash market
Live cattle, lean hogs also up
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange feeder cattle futures hit new all-time highs in the nearby contracts on Monday, as bidding wars continue to rally cash prices as more producers show interest in expanding their herds, traders said. The rally helped give a boost to the pork market, where CME April lean hogs ended […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle pull back from all-time highs
Chicago lean hogs up off contract lows
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures retreated on Friday after racing to all-time highs during the previous three sessions as tightening U.S. supplies rallied cash prices. Profit-taking and technical pressured futures following the surge, though the market could still post new highs moving forward, analysts said. Surging cash prices this week […] Read more
Putting a rotational grazing plan into action
CFGA is working with provincial partners to distribute funds for those taking an online program
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Canadian Forage and Grassland Association (CFGA) has developed an online platform to help producers learn more about rotational grazing and how it can be adopted to their farm. “Whether you’re managing a large operation that keeps you on the farm, have an off-farm job or possible family commitments, this program was designed for people […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle hit another record high
Cattle producers seen playing hard ball; hogs touch contract lows
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures set a record high for the third consecutive session on Thursday as producers held out for higher prices from meatpackers searching for supplies, brokers said. Strong cash prices and tightening supplies have pushed futures above a 2014 record for the front-month contract, after ranchers reduced […] Read more
Detection and prevention of rectal and anal tears
They’re rare, but the consequences may make slaughter necessary
Reading Time: 3 minutes It is worthwhile to discuss ways to recognize, treat and prevent rectal and anal injuries in livestock. They are rare, but occur often enough to warrant a review in case producers or veterinarians encounter them in cattle or other animals. The causes are many and varied but some preventive measures may be obvious. Depending on […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
