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Hog sector to focus on margins in face of outside volatility

'Counter-cyclical' moves seen in markets

MarketsFarm — The hog sector has found itself caught up in the general uncertainty of many commodity and financial markets — making it more difficult than normal to predict where values could be headed. “We’re seeing a ton of volatility and it feels like we’re in a bit of transition on supply versus expectations,” said […] Read more

CME August 2022 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, dark red and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME cattle tumble on worries of waning demand

Hogs up off recent lows

Chicago | Reuters — Concerns about red-hot U.S. inflation knocked down Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle and feeder cattle futures on Monday, as rising prices threaten beef demand, analysts said. Demand is most at risk for expensive steaks and other pricey cuts as some consumers shift to buying cheaper items, analysts said. U.S. consumer prices […] Read more

File photo of raw and cooked ground beef. (Lime and Lemon Media photo via Canada Beef Inc.)

Beef sector calls for Health Canada label exception

The Canadian Cattlemen's Association wants ground beef exempted from proposed rules

The cattle sector is less than pleased by a Health Canada proposal that would put a ‘high saturated fat’ label on retail ground beef. The proposal is part of a suite of changes proposed for Canada’s Food and Drug Regulations. As well as adding a front-of-packaging (FOP) label requirement for foods deemed by Health Canada […] Read more

CME August 2022 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, dark red and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures consolidate near peaks

Chicago hog futures fall

Chicago | Reuters — CME Group cattle futures stabilized near recent highs on Thursday, with strong cash markets and a round of speculative buying underpinning prices. Hog futures fell as the soybean futures market rallied to its highest in nearly 10 years, raising the prospect of higher feed costs. The U.S. Agriculture Department said on […] Read more

CME August 2022 live cattle (candlesticks) with Bollinger bands (20,2) and 200-day moving average (black line). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle futures rally on concerns about supplies

July lean hogs turn lower

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle futures rallied on Wednesday, supported by technical buying and signs of tightening supplies in the cash market, traders said. On a continuous basis, the front-month fed cattle contract hit its highest since November 2015. Live cattle hit a six-week high. Hog futures ended weaker, giving up early […] Read more


CME August 2022 feeder cattle (candlesticks) with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle, hog futures rise

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange cattle futures rose on Tuesday, supported by good export prospects and strength in the cash market, traders said. Hog futures firmed on a technical bounce. U.S. beef processors on Tuesday slaughtered an estimated 126,000 cattle, up from 121,000 a year ago, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said. Hog […] Read more

CME August 2022 live cattle (candlesticks) with 10-, 20- and 50-day moving averages. (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: Cattle, hog futures fall as corn prices rise

Supply outlook also a concern

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures fell on Monday, pressured by ample supplies and concerns about feed costs due to high corn prices, traders said. Hog futures were also weak. U.S. beef processors on Monday slaughtered an estimated 125,000 cattle, up from 117,000 a year ago, the U.S. Department of Agriculture […] Read more

CME August 2022 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, dark red and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle, feeder cattle touch three-week highs

July lean hogs close lower

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures topped a three-week high in the most-active contract on Friday before ending lower amid pre-weekend profit-taking, analysts said. Feeder cattle futures also exceeded a three-week high, while lean hog futures came under pressure at the CME. Strong demand for cattle from meatpackers and a decline […] Read more


CME August 2022 live cattle (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (pink, dark red and black lines). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle firm on strong demand

Lean hogs mixed near unchanged

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange Group live cattle futures firmed on Thursday, supported by steady cash prices across the U.S. Plains, as well as strength in consumer beef demand, despite inflationary forces, analysts said. “The feeling two, three weeks ago was that beef demand wasn’t that good and was going to really start […] Read more

CME July 2022 lean hogs (candlesticks) with Bollinger bands (20,2) and CME lean hog index (pink line). (Barchart)

U.S. livestock: CME hogs firm on summer demand, tight supplies

Lower corn futures support feeder cattle

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange Group lean hog futures firmed on Wednesday, supported by strong demand that has pushed cash prices higher. “We’re still looking at tighter supplies in front of us,” said Rich Nelson, chief strategist at Allendale Inc. Pork demand firms during the summer, with U.S. grilling holidays such as Father’s […] Read more