Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live and feeder cattle futures gained on Wednesday as strong export optimism supports production through the end of the year, traders said. Chicago Mercantile Exchange December live cattle futures settled 0.5 cent higher at 107.875 cents/lb. (all figures US$). Market-ready cattle traded in the cash market at $107/cwt, up $1 […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures up on firm cash, export hopes
Lower supplies in cold storage support hogs

Swine flu strain makes first jump to person in Canada
Alberta reports 'one isolated case' in central region
Further risk to people is believed to be low after a person in central Alberta was confirmed to have caught a variant of H1N2 swine flu, in the first case of its kind in Canada. The virus was spotted in mid-October after a patient sought medical care with “influenza-like symptoms,” provincial chief medical officer Dr. […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures trim back on election uncertainty
Pork fundamentals still bearish on hogs
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live and feeder cattle futures fell on Tuesday in a round of profit-taking ahead of an uncertain U.S. presidential election, analysts said. Chicago Mercantile Exchange December live cattle futures settled 0.725 cent lower at 107.825 cents/lb., after rising in each the last five sessions (all figures US$). CME feeder cattle […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Live cattle up with wholesale beef prices
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures inched higher on Monday as rising wholesale beef prices buoyed the market in light-volume trade, analysts said. Chicago Mercantile Exchange December live cattle futures settled up 0.25 cent at 108.55 cents/lb. (all figures US$). “That’s still the underlying factor — (cattle) weights are not as big as […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Live cattle edge higher in subdued trade
Chicago hogs end mixed
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures closed higher on Friday for a fourth straight session, supported by follow-through technical buying after Thursday’s strong close and brisk demand for beef, analysts said. But trading volume was thin as brokers waited for significant cash cattle trade to emerge. Fat cattle traded lightly in the southern […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Live cattle futures jump on tightening supplies
Lower wholesale pork values drag on hogs
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures closed higher on Thursday on expectations that tight cattle supplies and rising demand for beef will buoy cash cattle markets, analysts said. Cash cattle traded lightly in the southern Plains this week at $106/cwt, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported, even with last week (all figures US$). […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Lean hogs fall on declining wholesale pork prices
Steady beef demand lifts cattle futures
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. lean hog futures fell on Wednesday on weaker wholesale pork prices, while cattle futures advanced on steady beef demand, traders said. The U.S. pork cutout, an indication of wholesale pork prices, fell by $4.31, to $84.52/cwt, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (all figures US$). Prices eased for pork […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Live cattle rebound as trade adjusts to supply shock
Hogs lower, cash market supportive
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures rebounded on Tuesday, as packers kept processing at a higher-than-usual pace, despite a bearish Cattle on Feed report, traders said. Meanwhile, hog futures eased slightly on Tuesday, as falling cutout prices have carved into packer margins, traders said. CME December live cattle futures gained 0.65 cent to […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Live cattle hit lowest price since June under supply pressure
December lean hogs close up off recent low
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures fell on Monday, with the most-active contract touching its lowest price since June under pressure from a larger-than-expected number of cattle on feed in the United States, traders said. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, in a monthly report issued after the markets closed on Friday, said 11.7 […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Hog, live cattle futures up on bargain buying
USDA Cattle on Feed data tops expectations
Chicago | Reuters –– Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog and live cattle futures rose on Friday on some bargain buying ahead of the weekend. Hog futures snapped a three-session losing streak, the longest for the December contract in five weeks, while live cattle rebounded from its lowest since June 29. CME December lean hogs rose […] Read more