US red meat exports are facing challenges related to a strong US dollar and competition from abroad that threaten to reduce shipments in coming months. An overall increase in the value of the US dollar, weakening economies around the world and increased competition from other exporting countries make US meat exports more challenging. First-half red … Read More

Managed money and commercial traders bought live cattle futures in the week ended Tuesday, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission said Friday, a unusual event in that the two often work in different directions. As of Tuesday, managed money, or large speculative firms, had a net long position of 21,189 live cattle contracts, up 1,369, or … Read More

Fed cattle prices faltered again this week, taking returns to cattle feeders further into the red.  Other cattle owners have dug in their heels, refusing to accept lower bids from packer buyers. But since good times and bad come to feedlots all the time, it’s hard to visualize the plight of those who feed cattle … Read More

US and other world pork exporters could see extra product demand as China culls nearly 100 million hogs and another 10 million sows over the last 18 months.  For US cattle and beef producers, higher pork exports would remove some domestic competition. A new Rabobank report estimates that the Chinese culling is equivalent to wiping … Read More

The CME Feeder Cattle Index has fallen below last year but remains well above the five-year average as the index this year trades on a flatter plain than last year. More calves are coming to the auction barns and more are expected through the fall as they are weaned and/or removed from seasonally fading pastures. … Read More

As cattle traders seek direction in a confusing market, nothing seems to fill the bill. Fundamental indicators aren’t performing as they should, and charts aren’t any better at providing clarity.  What’s a trader to do? For the last month, the Oct futures contract’s price and open interest basically have been moving sideways, which doesn’t help.  … Read More

Managed money, or large fund speculators, increased their net long live cattle positions during the week ended Tuesday as commercial traders grew their net short level more substantially. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission Friday said that for the week ended Tuesday managed money raised its net long cattle position to 19,820 contracts from 18,387 the … Read More