Chicago | Reuters — CME lean hog futures fell to their lowest price in more than two weeks on Wednesday and live cattle futures strengthened as snowstorms continued to disrupt livestock operations. Feeder cattle futures reached their highest price since September. Wintry weather in the northern U.S. Plains has delayed livestock shipments, reduced cattle weights […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME hogs weaken, cattle rise as winter storms hit
Hogs touch lowest since Dec. 16
Indo-Pacific plan wins kudos from cattle group
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Canadian Cattle Association is hailing Ottawa’s plan to boost trade with the Indo-Pacific region. About 20 per cent of beef exports already head to the region, with Japan, China, South Korea, Vietnam and Hong Kong being the top markets. The prospects for increasing beef exports are good, it said. “The Indo-Pacific region holds the […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME cattle, hog futures near two-week lows in broad selloff
Boxed beef values limit losses in cattle
Chicago | Reuters — CME Group livestock futures hit their lowest prices in about two weeks on Tuesday on profit-taking and widespread selling that dragged down commodity and financial markets, analysts said. Traders booked profit in live cattle after the most-active contract reached a fresh high on Thursday, brokers said. Benchmark CME February live cattle […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market to start 2023 on firm tone
Counter-seasonal behaviour expected
There were no market reports last week due to the holiday season; however, I still received a few calls from cattle producers regarding the feeder market outlook for the first quarter of 2023. The feeder market finished 2022 at 52-week highs. Steers averaging 500 lbs. were readily trading over the psychological $300 level while 900-lb. […] Read more
Consider feed requirements for beef cattle during cold weather
A measure called LCT can be used to calculate the increase in total digestible nutrients required
Reading Time: 3 minutes When the weather outside is frightful, cattle need a helping hand. “The ability of cattle to withstand cold conditions is impacted by the lower critical temperature, or LCT,” said Karl Hoppe, a livestock specialist with North Dakota State University’s extension service. “When the temperature drops below the LCT, maintenance requirements will increase and performance can […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME futures ease on profit-taking, feed prices
Smaller cattle supplies remain a concern
Chicago | Reuters — CME livestock futures eased back on Friday, as traders sought profits after cattle futures hit new contract highs in the previous session and on pressure from a run-up in grains, traders said. U.S. livestock markets will be closed Monday for the New Year holiday. On Tuesday, the markets will pre-open at […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle futures hit new highs on tight supplies
Technical selling drags on hogs, again
Chicago | Reuters — CME live cattle futures and several deferred feeder cattle futures hit new contract highs on Thursday, as shrinking weights of market-ready cattle and concerns over smaller supplies helped fuel a price rally, traders said. Ongoing concerns over the recent severe winter storm impacting the livestock sector across the U.S. Great Plains […] Read more
Klassen: Historically high deferred live cattle futures support feeder complex
Compared to last week, western Canadian feeder cattle markets traded $2 lower to $4 higher on average. Many auction barns were on holidays last week; therefore, the buying interest appeared to be more concentrated on the major markets. There were no reports from Manitoba last week. Alberta packers were buying fed cattle on a dressed […] Read more
Take time to learn the ins and outs of grazing brassicas
Toxicity can be an issue, and so can fussy eating, but brassicas can benefit the soil and extend the grazing season
Reading Time: 4 minutes With their ability to suppress weeds and break up compacted soil, brassica plants have become widely known as a good cover crop option. Many producers graze their cover crops, but brassicas can also serve as a grazing crop. “The brassicas are super watery and highly digestible,” said Jillian Bainard, a forage research scientist at Ag […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle futures ease, supplies in focus
Hog futures down on technical selling
Chicago | Reuters — CME live cattle futures eased on Wednesday, after moving higher in the previous session, as traders watch for smaller supplies of market-ready cattle moving through the system, traders said. Snow and ice across the U.S. Great Plains last week will likely also reduce supply, shrinking weights of market-ready cattle. “The recent […] Read more
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