Robin Schmahl

Both live cattle and feeder cattle were higher across the board Thursday. Traders found solid footing with feedlots able to see cash trade $4.00 to $5.00 higher. Hogs struggled somewhat...

Cattle futures continued to regain ground Wednesday as cash trade has not yet taken place and it appears higher cash might be in the cards. Hogs were under pressure right from the start as funds seem to be comfortable...

Live cattle were able to hold minor gains with traders having little to focus on to influence trading. Feeder cattle were mixed, influenced by mixed corn trade. Hogs were mixed with some spread trading between nearby and deferred...

The livestock complex came to life Monday, posting strong gains across the board. It was as if the up-to-date Commitment of Traders report triggered short-covering in an oversold market.

Friday was a good end to the week for live cattle and hogs. Both closed in positive territory with hogs posting the greatest gain. Feeder cattle struggled due to higher corn futures.

Live cattle closed slightly lower as mixed cash trading did not develop any excitement. Mixed boxed beef also continues to be the pattern. Hog futures again made new lows but were able to bounce as short-covering took place...

The livestock complex had its head under water Wednesday with no positive futures prices across the board. Cash cattle traded mixed. Hogs fell significantly as the path of least resistance is down without fundamental support.

Live cattle futures closed mixed with some bull-spreading activity as traders wait for cash trade. Feeder cattle closed higher in response to lower corn prices. Hogs could not catch a break again Tuesday with futures closing lower...

One had to look far into the future to see any positive prices in the livestock complex. The rest of the contracts closed under pressure. Cattle traded the neutrality of the report last Friday, leaving futures struggling. Hogs...

Cattle futures were mixed at the close Friday as traders positioned ahead of the Cattle on Feed report. Hogs closed mostly lower after rebounding significantly off the lows earlier in the trading session.

Cattle found some support due to the selling of futures subsiding. Live cattle futures now carry a discount to cash, which stopped the selling tide Thursday. Hogs fell completely apart, suffering heavy losses on what seemed to be...

Selling pressure increased in the livestock complex Wednesday. The financial markets have had a negative impact on livestock and the potential for demand impact. A few cattle traded yesterday at $1.00 lower, sending further...

The livestock complex could not find support Tuesday with all contracts closing in negative territory. Traders are not excited over the potential for cash cattle trade this week. Hog futures took back more of the gains of Monday...

It was another day of lower futures for the cattle complex. Nearby live and feeder cattle contracts left chart gaps on the open Monday as traders wanted to liquidate. Hogs were under pressure much of the day but managed to...

Traders were not fond of steady cash developing for the week. Feeder cattle fell due to spillover from live cattle with pressure also coming from higher corn. Hogs had a banner day with triple-digit gains though the end of the...

The cattle complex declined even though corn price fell. Traders did not like the dismal export sales and steady cash trade. Spread trading was taking place in hogs Thursday as traders are balancing choppy cash with some recent...

Feeder cattle moved to new contract highs with ease Wednesday. Live cattle posted minor gains in June and later contracts. April hogs made another valiant effort and closed higher for the day.

Traders were a bit more cautious with live cattle trade yesterday. The upcoming WASDE report and some reduced expectations of cash this week trimmed the exuberance. Hogs saw bull spreading of April contract to later months...

The cattle complex showed quite a bit of strength to begin the week. Most months made new contract highs as prices march upward. April hogs took the brunt of spread trading, while later contracts were able to close mixed after...

Traders sold live cattle futures due to disappointment with cattle not yet trading and dismal export sales. Feeder cattle steadied after the loss on Wednesday. Hog futures faced more pressure due to the lack of strong...

The livestock complex just could not find support Wednesday. The anticipation of higher cash cattle did not dominate trading activity as traders are again waiting to see what will develop. Hogs struggled throughout the day but...

Both live cattle and feeder cattle posted similar gains as traders wait for further fundamentals to surface. Hogs continue to struggle with April and May were able to close slightly higher. Packers were not as aggressive Tuesday...

Cattle futures were mixed Friday as traders were focused on positioning ahead of the Cattle on Feed report. Hogs gained early and then slipped back as traders were uncertain over cash and cutouts to close the week.

Feeder cattle were the recipients of trader interest as significantly lower corn prices turned traders to buyers. Live cattle just kind of hung out as cash cattle traded higher with little volume to pin anything down. Hogs...

Live cattle settled back a bit into the close after trading in a price range of less than a dollar. There were no cattle traded Wednesday, leaving packers looking at higher prices again to purchase needed supply. Feeder cattle...

The livestock complex had a strong day as traders seemed rejuvenated after a long weekend. Higher cash cattle and the strong potential for higher cash again this week underpinned the market. Added to that was a suspected...

Live cattle closed higher Friday, but did not post substantial gains, even though cash traded higher. Feeder cattle just could not generate any strong buying interest. Hogs drifted with traders waiting to see further direction...

Much of the livestock complex was under pressure Thursday in part because of no cash cattle activity and lower cash for hogs. Cattle traders are waiting for cash trade to set direction.

February live cattle futures made another new high while later contracts were not able to follow suit. Feeder cattle showed minor gains on lower corn prices. Hogs set back a bit but were able to come back from their lows as cash...

Cattle and hogs diverged Tuesday and not necessarily from spread trading. Cattle traded slightly lower as there is some belief cash will not trade higher this week. Hog showed follow-through strength on further gains in cutouts...

The livestock complex came alive Monday with both cattle and hogs posting strong gains. Tuesday is the last day to trade February hogs. Mixed trading is expected in cattle.

Live cattle closed slightly higher Friday while feeder cattle closed slightly lower. Higher cash cattle had already been factored in. Feeder cattle held well in the face of a higher corn price. Hogs mustered a mixed close amidst lower...

The cattle complex was rather complacent Thursday with live cattle futures slightly lower while feeder cattle were slightly higher. Traders were waiting for cash to trade. Hog futures spent some time in positive territory but came...

Cattle moved through Wednesday uneventfully as traders waited to see if there would be any development of cash activity. The WASDE report was also assessed as to longer-term impact on feed prices and projections of beef...

Live cattle spent some time in positive territory Tuesday but could not hold those slight gains. Feeder cattle followed a similar pattern, unable to penetrate technical resistance. Hogs were very negative for a time but managed to...

Cattle futures closed Monday on another positive note. Live cattle were carried higher on the expectations for higher cash prices again this week. Feeder cattle pushed higher, nearing chart resistance. Hogs came under severe...

The livestock complex closed higher, posting double-digit gains in all contracts except February hogs. Cattle were supported by cash trade while hogs showed technical follow-through.

The livestock complex pushed higher with all categories posting triple-digit gains Thursday. Live cattle traders anticipate higher cash to develop while feeder cattle reacted to lower corn prices. Hogs saw increased technical buying...

Live cattle held the line with traders hesitant to push the market higher prior to the release of the inventory report. Feeder cattle did not hesitate to post gains due to lower corn. Hogs could not find aggressive buyer...

Cattle had a banner day, with April and later live futures contracts pushing easily to new contract highs. The driver was the upcoming inventory report to be released Tuesday afternoon and the bullishness surrounding it. Hogs...

Feedlots held last week, resulting in steady to $1.00 higher cash. This week will be another test of their resolve due to increasing feed prices. Hogs adjusted to lower cash Friday in the February contract as it needs to move...

Even though cash cattle trade is generally waiting until today, futures just could not hold until cash was actually seen. A few trades steady with last week did not sit well with traders. Hog traders got excited yesterday after...

Most livestock futures contracts were higher with pressure only on nearby live cattle and hogs. Traders are waiting for cash trade but with a bias to the upside. Hogs struggle to find support.

Cattle futures were able to hold well into the close despite the surge in corn prices. There is some optimism for higher cash this week which seems to provide some support. Hogs were under substantial pressure in nearby months...

Live cattle found support from the neutral Cattle on Feed report on Friday and spillover strength from feeder cattle as they pushed higher in response to lower corn prices. Hogs put in a roller coaster day with a strong opening...

Cattle closed higher in all contracts except January feeder cattle. Lower cash had already been factored in and traders were positioning themselves for the Cattle on Feed report. Hogs were higher on strong export sales and...

Livestock futures took the brunt of selling yesterday and not because of spillover from each other. Live cattle declined due to weaker cash. Feeder cattle fell due to further technical selling. Hogs fell due to further cash...

Cattle remained mixed yesterday with later feeder cattle contract finding some support closing with solid gains. Traders look ahead to the Cattle of Feed report. Hogs reverse the gains of the previous day and then some with...

Livestock futures were mixed Tuesday with cattle lower and hogs higher. Cattle still feel the effects of lower cash last week and the possibility of lower cash this week. Hogs moved higher as short covering took place but failed...

The trade was surprised cash cattle traded lower on Friday due to the consensus that it would be no worse than steady. The friendly WASDE report might have had an influence on sales as well as the lower trend of boxed beef...

Cattle could not lift off Thursday, unable to find anything to support futures. Cash cattle trade was nonexistent as both feedlots and packers dug in. Hogs showed further losses in nearby months as spread trading was again...

Livestock did not find much support Wednesday. Cash cattle did not trade, and feeder cattle declined, even though there was little pressure from corn. Hogs took another beating with continued cash and cutout weakness.

Cattle did not accomplish much Tuesday with live cattle futures closing slightly higher while feeder cattle were mixed. Without cash activity and weakness of boxed beef, traders remained neutral. Hogs showed weakness due to elusive...

Optimism returned to the cattle market with traders buying futures more aggressively. Cash held last week, providing confidence to feedlots for more this week. Boxed beef continues to show strength. Hogs pushed higher due to...

The livestock complex did not close last week on a very good note. Cash cattle trade was a bit of a disappointment, leaving traders wondering if this might be the beginning of the end to the higher trend. Hogs were unable to find...

Live cattle futures showed lackluster trading activity Thursday as the prospect for strong cash gains was reduced. Futures traded in a narrow range throughout the day. Feeder cattle declined even though corn prices did not...

Feeder cattle found support from the significant pressure on corn price. Live cattle posted gains as no cash activity took place, increasing the odds of higher cash this week. Hogs were under further pressure as cash is not...

Livestock were under pressure in all contracts except for December 2023 and later hog futures. Pressure stemmed from the weakness in nearly all commodities spilling over with the thoughts of potential demand weakness. Feeder...

The cattle complex was not able to see a strong close to end out the year. However, with higher cash and stronger boxed beef last week, the uptrend should continue. Hogs showed mixed trade with nearby contracts closing lower...