Reuters — The U.S. hog herd in the June-August quarter grew two per cent versus a year ago to a record high, according to Friday’s U.S. Department of Agriculture report, which surpassed average trade projections. Affordable feed, solid summer grilling demand and respectable U.S. pork exports encouraged farmers to grow their herds. Several producers ramped […] Read more

September record-large U.S. hog herd topped expectations

U.S. livestock: Hogs higher on short-covering after seven-year lows
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures edged higher on Thursday, rebounding from an earlier seven-year low as investors squared positions ahead of a government supply report due on Friday, traders and analysts said. Traders also were cleaning up their books ahead of the last day of the third quarter, with hogs on pace […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Cattle, hogs mostly higher on short-covering
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. cattle and hog futures were mostly higher on Wednesday, with feeder cattle rallying about one per cent on short-covering following recent lows, traders msaid. Several Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog contracts fell to lifetime lows before trimming losses as traders squared up their positions ahead of a quarterly U.S. hog […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle plunge limit down
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures on Tuesday slumped, with nearby contracts down the three cents/lb. daily price limit, rattled by fund selling and uneasiness before cash prices by Friday, said traders. October and December settled down by the three-cent limit to 103.825 and 103.125 cents, respectively (all figures US$). Live […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Lower cash prices send CME live cattle lower
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures closed lower on Monday, pressured by technical selling and last Friday’s drop in prices for slaughter-ready, or cash, cattle, said traders. October live cattle ended 0.45 cent per pound lower at 106.825 cents, and settled below the 10-day moving average of 107.06 cents (all figures […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Cattle erase losses to finish flat
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures finished roughly unchanged on Friday, reversing from earlier steep losses as investors squared up positions ahead of a monthly supply report that was released after the market close, traders and analysts said. Feeder cattle and lean hogs also settled about flat at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, in […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Cattle decline on profit-taking
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures fell one per cent on Thursday, pressured by technical selling and as investors took profits following Wednesday’s nearly four-week high, traders and analysts said. Feeder cattle futures also were mostly lower while lean hog futures were mixed, with the front-month contract hitting the lowest levels […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Hogs plunge to contract lows on supply
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures fell three per cent or more on Monday, with many contracts reaching lifetime lows on pressure from robust hog supplies and technical selling, traders said. Live and feeder cattle futures were mostly lower at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, weighed down by profit-taking after cattle earlier hit multi-week […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Strong cash prices push CME live cattle higher
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle contracts ended higher for a third day in a row on Friday, led by short-covering in response to better-than-expected prices for slaughter-ready, or cash, cattle, said traders. They said fund buying contributed to CME live cattle gains after some contracts broke through technical resistance levels. October […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Bargain-buying lifts CME lean hogs
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hogs on Thursday settled moderately higher on bargain buying after supply worries sank futures to a 10-month low for a second day in a row, traders said. October closed up 0.225 cent/lb. to 55.15 cents, and December ended 0.35 cent higher at 49.45 cents (all figures US$). […] Read more