CME December 2020 lean hogs with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Domestic demand boosts hog futures

Feed grain prices drag on feeder cattle

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. hog futures leapt to their highest price since May 2019 on Friday on strong domestic demand for pork, while feeder cattle futures tumbled to a three-month low. Gains in the swine market extend a rally driven by rising cash prices for hogs and demand from consumers. “Domestic demand has been […] Read more



This photo was taken back in the days when Alberta Pork was the single-desk seller of hogs in the province. While returning to a single desk might not be possible, hog producers should consider collective marketing, the farm organization argues.

Alberta Pork urges producers to consider marketing co-op

Banding together would fix a ‘broken’ system and force packers to pay a fair price, says organization

Reading Time: 2 minutes Alberta Pork is urging hog farmers in the province to band together to force packers to pay a fair price for their animals. And that includes thinking about returning to a single-desk model or forming marketing co-operatives to “shift the balance of power back to producers.” In an analysis of the sector covering the past […] Read more

CME October 2020 lean hogs with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Hog futures up on pork demand, cash prices

November feeder cattle touch lowest level since July 2

Chicago | Reuters –– U.S. hog futures extended gains on Wednesday and the front-month contract reached its highest price in about a year due to strength in the cash market, traders said. Solid pork demand has underpinned cash prices in the face of large hog supplies. The U.S. pork cutout, an indication of wholesale pork […] Read more


(Regis Lefebure photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

U.S. livestock: Cash market strength boosts hog futures

Cash cattle values also boost live cattle

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. hog futures rose to their highest in more than a year on Tuesday, rallying to keep pace with recent gains in the cash market. The cash market strength stemmed from continued good demand even as the traditional U.S. grilling season draws to a close with the weather turning cooler. “There’s […] Read more

(Gloria Solano-Aguilar photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Strong demand, lower supplies support North American hog prices

MarketsFarm — Hog prices in North America typically come under pressure heading into fall, as the end of barbecue season coincides with more hogs coming to slaughter. However, strong global demand has propped up hog prices in recent weeks, with cash prices increasing by over 25 per cent. Fewer hogs coming to market, coupled with […] Read more


CME December 2020 live cattle with 20- and 50-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle, hog futures rise on strong cash markets

U.S. packers seen dialing up slaughter pace

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle and lean hog futures advanced on Monday on expectations that cash prices will remain firm, analysts said. Cash cattle prices are expected to rise $1-$2/cwt this week as packers ramp up slaughtering, said Brian Hoops, president of broker Midwest Market Solutions (all figures US$). Fat cattle last week […] Read more

CME December 2020 live cattle with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures sag on fears for economy, beef demand

Firm cash hog values support hog futures

Chicago | Reuters — Live cattle futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange eased on Friday, following as global financial markets fell after U.S. President Donald Trump tested positive for the coronavirus, adding to investor uncertainty. Disappointing U.S. job growth numbers heightened worries about consumer demand for beef, at a time when retailers are starting to […] Read more


CME December 2020 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages and October 2020 live cattle (purple line). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Nearby cattle futures lower on profit-taking

Chicago lean hogs end mixed

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures closed mixed on Thursday with nearby contracts drifting lower on profit-taking a day after the benchmark December contract touched a six-week high, analysts said. Commodity funds hold a net long position in Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) live cattle futures, leaving the market vulnerable to bouts of long […] Read more

CME December 2020 live cattle with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle up on beef demand, cash market optimism

Chicago hogs down on profit-taking

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. live cattle futures rose on Tuesday, with the December contract reaching its highest in a month on signs of strong demand for beef and expectations of firm cash cattle trade this week, analysts said. Also, commodity funds appeared to be adjusting positions ahead of the end of the month and […] Read more