US feed yards are front-end loaded, and it will take several weeks to clear the air, contrary to many who say it will be cleared up in just a few weeks. The September USDA Cattle-on-Feed report showed the industry has begun to work this supply of well- to overly fed cattle down. Of the 9.986 … Read More

Cattle and hog futures prices were expected to remain soft today, a continuation of late-day action Tuesday after the USDA’s monthly Cold Storage report revealed total US frozen red meat supplies on Aug. 31 were up 3% from July and up 26% from last year. Month-to-month poultry supplies were down slightly, but stocks were up … Read More

The volume of competing meats continues to keep a lid on cattle and beef markets as wholesale pork and chicken prices keep undercutting beef prices and attracting buyers.  Domestic and export beef demand is suffering as a result. Dressed cash hog prices last week were quoted at $68.75 per cwt, about 25% below last year.  … Read More

Managed money, a term for investment funds, cut its net long position for live cattle futures to its lowest level in more than a year, which may have contributed to the demise of the latest rally attempt. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s weekly Commitments of Traders report Friday for the week ended Tuesday said managed … Read More

The Federal Open Market Committee Thursday left its Federal Funds Rate unchanged in the zero to 0.25% range for now, which is a good thing for US consumers – for now. Higher interest rates could stifle consumer spending on which is a mainstay of the US economy as it leads to more jobs and higher … Read More

Many in the futures market talk of rising feeder cattle supplies coming as pastures fade seasonally, and with feedlot losses mounting, it’s little wonder cash feeder cattle prices are running into resistance. Since peaking at $231.30 pct cwt on June 25, the CME Feeder Cattle Index, a combination of prices from auction barns across the … Read More

Cash fed cattle prices were lower last week for the fourth straight week of declines, exacerbating feedlot losses and representing the 12th straight week that fed cattle prices have been below a year ago. Many feedlots are pushing cattle out because packer discounts for YG4 and YG5 carcasses are growing after being very low to … Read More