Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures rose on Wednesday after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said it will allow nine pork processing plants to apply to operate faster line speeds under a pilot program. The announcement eased concerns that slower processing speeds had slowed meatpackers’ demand for pigs to slaughter, […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME hog futures up on slaughter speed plan
December live cattle touch two-month high, end lower

U.S. livestock: USDA lifts estimates for beef production, cattle prices
December live cattle up, lean hogs lower
Chicago | Reuters — The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Tuesday raised its forecast for beef production and cattle prices in 2021 and 2022 due to strong demand and heavier livestock. Robust sales of U.S. beef to domestic consumers and overseas buyers have helped support Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) cattle futures. USDA, in a monthly […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle at two-month high on strong beef demand
December hogs follow pork lower
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures reached a two-month high on Monday amid expectations for solid demand for beef, traders said. Gains in cash cattle prices last week helped support futures, traders said. Meat packers killed an estimated 121,000 cattle at U.S. slaughtering plants on Monday, unchanged from a week ago, […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle falls as cash market idles
Lower cash, pork prices drag on lean hogs
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures fell, pressured by a stagnant cash market and processing backups, traders said. CME December live cattle futures settled down 1.225 cents at 128.325 cents/lb. January feeder cattle futures eased 2.675 cents to end at 157.325 cents/lb. For the week, live cattle futures lost 2.35 cents, […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME lean hogs fall on sluggish export sales
Weaker exports drag on cattle also
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures fell for a third session on Thursday, pressured by weak export activity, traders said. CME December lean hog futures settled down 2.825 cents at 73.2 cents/lb., its biggest drop since Sept. 10 (all figures US$). CME February hogs ended down 2.55 cents at 76.675 cents/lb. […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME lean hogs down on technical selling, export worries
Chicago cattle futures up
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures fell on Wednesday on technical selling and fears that falling Chinese hog prices point to slowing export demand for U.S. pork, traders said. CME December lean hog futures settled down 1.375 cents at 76.025 cents/lb., after dipping to 75.925 cents and filling a gap on […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle down on technical selling, uncertain demand
Pork export concerns drag on hogs
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures ended lower for a second straight session on Tuesday, retreating from early strength on technical selling and uncertainty about consumer demand for meat, traders said. CME December live cattle futures settled 0.4 cent lower at 130.025 cents/lb., turning down after meeting technical resistance at its […] Read more

U.S. surgeons successfully test pig kidney transplant in human patient
New York | Reuters — For the first time, a pig kidney has been transplanted into a human without triggering immediate rejection by the recipient’s immune system, a potentially major advance that could eventually help alleviate a dire shortage of human organs for transplant. The procedure done at NYU Langone Health in New York City […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle retreat from one-month high
Corn futures weigh on feeder cattle
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures closed lower on Monday, hit by profit-taking and technical selling after the benchmark December contract hit a one-month high on Friday, traders said. A stronger close in corn futures pressured feeder cattle futures. CME December live cattle futures settled down 0.55 cent at 130.425 cents/lb. […] Read more

Olymel CEO dies of ‘sudden’ cancer
Rejean Nadeau died Thursday at 71
The CEO of Canadian pork and poultry packer Olymel has died of a “sudden and virulent cancer” at age 71, his company reported Friday morning. Rejean Nadeau, the CEO of Sollio Co-operative’s meatpacking and processing arm since 1996, died Thursday at his home at Rougemont, Que., about 25 km south of St-Hyacinthe, Olymel said in […] Read more