Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures fell on Wednesday, pressured by technical selling and signs of weakness in the cash markets, traders said. Hog futures were lower for the fourth day in a row, with the front-month contract sinking to its lowest in 10 months on weak export prospects and a […] Read more

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures fall on weak cash markets
Hog futures down for fourth day

Pork seminar adopts dual format
Reading Time: < 1 minute The Banff Pork Seminar will be a hybrid conference this winter. Organizers are planning to have live broadcast of the plenary sessions, with breakout sessions to be taped and available following the Jan. 11-13 event. βThe safety of our delegates is of utmost importance, and we are taking steps to ensure that in-person delegates have […] Read more
U.S. livestock: Cash, export markets lift CME live cattle
December hogs lower, February up
Chicago | Reuters — CME Group cattle futures rose on Thursday, with the front-month live cattle contract hitting its highest since June 2017 on support from strength in the cash markets. Rising overseas demand also lent support cattle futures after the U.S. Agriculture Department said that weekly beef export sales totaled 30,000 tonnes, the most […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME lean hogs fall, live cattle firm
Chicago | Reuters — CME lean hog futures fell on Wednesday, hit by profit-taking after rallying in the previous session, traders said. Live cattle futures were firm but gains were kept in check as the market consolidated near the 4-1/2-year highs hit earlier in the week. CME December lean hogs fell 1.55 cents to 76.175 […] 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

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle down on raised beef production forecasts
Pork supply expectations drag on CME December hogs
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures ended lower on Tuesday, after the U.S. Department of Agriculture slightly increased its forecasts for beef production this year and next year. USDA, in a monthly report, raised its 2021 estimate by 0.3 per cent from September because of higher cow slaughtering and heavier average […] Read more

U.S. considers faster hog slaughter paces based on staffing
Faster speeds seen as increasing injuries
Chicago | Reuters — The Biden administration is considering a proposal that could allow some pork plants to slaughter pigs more quickly if they boost staffing, a union official said, after a U.S. court struck down a Trump-era rule that removed line speed limits. The proposal put forward by Quality Pork Processors, operator of a […] Read more

Expansions boost Maple Leaf plant’s bacon offerings
Pre-cooked bacon capability sets up Winnipeg plant as 'bacon centre of excellence'
The Winnipeg pork further-processing plant previously earmarked as Maple Leaf Foods’ “ham centre of excellence” now gets the same billing for bacon. The major Toronto meat processor announced Tuesday it had completed a $182 million, 73,000-square foot expansion at its Lagimodiere Boulevard prepared meats plant, to “significantly” increase its bacon production capacity. The expansion, Maple […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle, feeder cattle extend gains
December hogs touch one-week low
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange feeder cattle and live cattle futures rose on Tuesday amid technical buying, while lean hog futures finished mixed. Both cattle markets have been due to rebound after recent selloffs dragged prices too low at a time when demand is solid, brokers said. Live cattle futures topped a one-week […] Read more

U.S. livestock: CME cattle futures extend slump
Hogs mixed after strong week
Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) live cattle futures closed lower on Friday, extending their slide for a sixth session on lacklustre cash cattle trade and falling wholesale beef prices, traders said. CME October live cattle futures settled down 0.175 cent on Friday at 120.4 cents/lb. while the benchmark December contract fell 0.525 […] Read more