Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures stormed to an all-time high on Wednesday as meatpackers scrambled to buy livestock at a time when supplies are tightening, brokers said. Ranchers have reduced their herds due to high feed costs and drought in the western U.S., forcing packers such as Tyson Foods and […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle hit record high as packers scramble for supplies
Chicago lean hogs continue lower
U.S. livestock: Cattle futures continue climbing
Lean hog futures down on day
Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) live cattle and feeder cattle futures continued climbing Tuesday, with most-active June live cattle again reaching a new contract high. CME June live cattle closed Tuesday at 163.95 cents/lb., up 0.25 cent on the day, while lightly-traded front-month April also closed at a new contract high of 172.3 cents, up 0.925 […] Read more
Finding workers the No. 1 challenge for Alberta beef processors
Labour is a top concern, but so are regulations and inter-provincial trade rules, new study finds
Reading Time: 4 minutes A shortage of workers is the biggest challenge facing Alberta’s beef processing sector, says a new industry report. However, Colleen Biggs doesn’t need a report to tell her that. “We pay quite a bit more than industry average and we still can’t seem to attract employees. I think that’s a big issue,” said Biggs, who […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Sizzling cash cattle prices ignite rally in CME futures
April hogs up, June down
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures leapt to contract highs on Thursday as cash prices soared, stoking concerns about tightening U.S. supplies. Meatpackers had to be aggressive in the cash market, brokers said, after ranchers have reduced their herds due to high feed costs and drought in the western U.S. Cattle […] Read more
Survey on best livestock management practices
Reading Time: < 1 minute Organizers of the province’s Living Lab initiative are looking for producers willing to take an in-depth survey on their management practices. The “Adoption of Beneficial Management Practices Survey… is targeting annual crop, beef/forage/feedlot, or mixed producers who have not signed up to participate in the Living Lab program,” said Alberta AgriSystems Living Lab. The federally […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME cattle up on higher cash price expectations
June lean hogs hit new lows
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures firmed on Wednesday on expectations for higher U.S. cash prices this week, as lean hog futures set contract lows, analysts said. Cash cattle were bid at about $168/cwt in the southern Plains, roughly $1 higher than the bulk of trading last week, said Dennis Smith, […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME cattle slide on profit-taking
April lean hogs set contract low
Chicago | Reuters — Profit-taking pushed down Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle futures on Tuesday, while front-month lean hog futures tumbled to another contract low. Losses on Wall Street helped set a negative tone for the markets, as live cattle futures pulled back from contract highs reached on Monday, traders said. “Cattle-wise, we got a bit […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle down off highs on profit-taking
Hogs continue mixed on U.S. farrowing intentions
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures slumped on Monday as profit-taking dragged prices down after the market set new contract highs, traders said. CME June live cattle ended down 0.9 cent at 161.225 cents/lb., after reaching a high of 162.525 cents/lb. (all figures US$). That exceeded Friday’s high of 162.175 cents/lb. […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME hogs up in deferred months
USDA report fuels supply uncertainty; cattle up on cash strength
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures rose in deferred contracts on Friday on U.S. producers’ plans for fewer sows to farrow, analysts said. Producers intend to have 2.93 million sows farrow, or give birth, from March to May, down one per cent from actual farrowings a year earlier, the U.S. Department […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle set contract high as cash prices jump
USDA sees hog farrowing intentions down on year
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures strengthened on Thursday, with the front-month contract setting a new high, as cash prices climbed. Cash cattle trades of around $170-$171/cwt in western Nebraska and around $172/cwt in northwest Iowa ignited the rally in futures, analysts said (all figures US$). Cash prices were up about […] Read more
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