Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange livestock futures fell on Thursday, as high meat prices are threatening U.S. demand, analysts said. Concerns that inflation could remain elevated for longer than anticipated weighed on the markets because higher prices could reduce meat sales, analysts said. Traders also watched a rise in prices for grain used […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME cattle, hogs weaken amid demand concerns
U.S. livestock: CME lean hogs drop to January lows on demand worries
Live cattle up, feeder cattle down
Chicago | Reuters — CME lean hog futures on Wednesday fell to their lowest prices since January amid concerns about demand for U.S. pork, analysts said. Inflation and a decline in U.S. pork exports to China, the world’s top pork consumer, are hurting demand, analysts said. The consumer price index rose 8.3 per cent in […] Read more
The danger of old batteries to livestock
Reading Time: < 1 minute Producers are being warned about the danger of lead poisoning from old batteries, particularly ones that “no longer have intact cases” (which exposes the lead plates). Young calves are particularly attracted to the salty taste of lead and will actively seek it out, said Dr. Joe Kendall, veterinary toxicologist with Alberta’s Ag Ministry. “Cattle that […] Read more
Klassen: Feeder market starts seasonal rally
Ontario demand leads charge higher in Manitoba
Compared to last week, western Canadian yearling markets traded $4 to as much as $6 higher on average. Calf markets were sharply higher. Auction barns in Manitoba reported calf prices up $8-$10 on average with certain pockets up as much $15. Calf markets in Alberta and Saskatchewan were up a solid $5-$8 from week-ago levels. […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME lean hogs firm nearby
Outside markets pressure live cattle
Chicago | Reuters — CME’s nearby lean hog futures firmed on Tuesday, incentivizing producers to sell market-ready hogs rather than hold them for premiums later in the summer, analysts said. High futures prices “may have encouraged producers to take a little more risk,” said Altin Kalo, economist at Steiner Consulting Group. “When you’ve got such […] Read more
Satellite tracking of cows still a work in progress
The potential is big but cold, monitoring frequency, and price are issues, Alberta pilot finds
Reading Time: 3 minutes Oyen producer Heather Mundt has been keeping an eye on her eight high-tech heifers since fitting them with GPS-enabled smart tags last September. Despite some setbacks, she remains excited about what the technology has to offer, she said. Mundt and husband Brenton are part of a pilot project testing the Australian-made Ceres Tag. Unlike other […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle firm on strong packer demand
Export demand concerns drag on hogs
Chicago | Reuters — CME live cattle futures firmed on Monday, supported by strong packer demand that supported cash prices, indicating a bullish outlook for summer month futures, analysts said. “Packer behaviour has been bullish for several weeks now. They are going after the cattle,” said Dennis Smith, commodity broker at Archer Financial. “I suspect […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle, hogs slip on demand concerns
Inflation on U.S. retail meat a worry
Chicago | Reuters — CME Group live cattle and hog futures slumped on Friday, as investors worried about the prospect of food inflation weighing heavy on U.S. consumer meat demand as the summer grilling season gets underway, analysts said. Benchmark June lean hogs settled the day down 2.975 cents, to 104.1 cents/lb. (all figures US$). […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME lean hogs climb, demand uncertainty remains
Chicago cattle futures lower
Chicago | Reuters — CME lean hog futures firmed for a second session on Thursday, supported by bargain buying, though demand concerns capped gains, analysts said. “We’ve got conflicting fundamentals. Seasonally, hog supplies should continue to tighten into mid-summer. But right now there’s a lot of demand worry,” said Doug Houghton, technical analyst at Brock […] Read more
U.S. livestock: CME live cattle ease
Cash prices maintain against lower futures
Chicago | Reuters — CME Group live cattle futures eased on Wednesday, pressured as processors pull market-ready cattle forward heading into the late spring, analysts said. June live cattle futures are discounted versus the cash market, creating an incentive to sell before cash falls. “We’re going to start narrowing up cash and the June board,” […] Read more
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