Robin Schmahl

Cattle futures struggled for a while Thursday; but eventually buyers became more aggressive, pushing futures to triple-digit gains. Traders remain bullish ahead of the Cattle on Feed report Friday. Hog futures struggled Thursday...

Cattle futures moved to new contract highs Wednesday, keeping the uptrend intact and prices soaring. Mixed boxed beef prices had no impact on trader optimism. Hogs came under pressure with the April contract falling over $2.00...

Cattle futures took a breather Tuesday as traders pondered the strength of cash and the upcoming Cattle on Feed report. Hog futures fell back as the recent pattern of daily chopiness continued.

There seems to be no top in the cattle market with new highs nearly daily. Packers seem to be short-bought, which may result in higher cash. Hogs opened higher Monday and never looked back. Traders anticipate stronger demand...

Packers could not hold out any longer and paid the asking prices for cattle Friday, resulting in a significant increase in cash prices. This should keep the uptrend intact. Hog futures showed...

Nearby live cattle contracts were the only ones showing a positive close Thursday. The rest of the livestock complex closed lower with hog futures showing substantial losses. Losses in the equity markets seems to have played a...

There is no stopping feeder cattle as futures continued to march higher Wednesday. Live cattle could not help but follow, anticipating that cash may be higher. Hog futures could not find any solid support as cutouts remain volatile.

Live cattle tried to work higher, but could not hold the gains, closing lower Tuesday. The pressure of the financial markets and talk of a recession affected the outlook. Feeders moved to new highs again. Hogs showed substantial...

The livestock complex was higher across the board on Monday following the strength on Friday. The cattle market is stronger as demand seems to be improving. Hogs continue to regain their losses, reaching a 50% price retracement...

Livestock futures were higher across the board with most of the strength in the cattle complex Friday. Traders quickly bought into cattle futures as cash began trading higher. Hog futures were higher as cutouts showed...

Hog futures were the beneficiaries of President Trump's decision to delay tariffs on goods covered under the USMCA trade agreement Thursday. Strong gains were seen in nearby contracts. Cattle struggled as traders were...

Livestock futures were higher in all categories on Wednesday. It seems the market has factored in the tariff situation and is correcting. There remains the possibility that some adjustment could be made to tariffs, which could...

Cattle futures seemed to have the uncertainty of the market factored in. This provided some short covering and a bounce in futures. Higher boxed beef prices provided support. Hog futures could not find support as tariffs...

Cattle futures bounced off the lows on Monday but closed lower. Further liquidation was likely due to the tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and additional tariffs on China that went into effect Tuesday. Hogs likely had this factored in...

The entire livestock complex fell substantially Friday as traders liquidated due to demand uncertainty and the potential impact of tariffs on exports. Feedlots sold cattle $2.00 lower as the hope for steady money faded. Hog...

The cattle complex found support Thursday with futures higher. Feeder cattle were stronger, dragging live cattle higher. Some light cattle trade indicates cash might be lower. Hog futures fell substantially Thursday, impacted mostly...

Cattle futures took a breather Wednesday after pushing higher since the Cattle on Feed report. Traders may wait to see cash trade before being confident in a price direction. Hogs rebounded nicely once the liquidation subsided...

The strength of feeder cattle supported live cattle futures Tuesday. The trend may be turning up after a substantial price retracement. Cash may be stabilizing. Hogs could not find support as the weakness of cutouts returned...

Cattle futures were supported Monday by the Cattle on Feed report with feeder cattle leading the way with gains of over $4.00. Hogs opened higher but buyer interest did not continue. Packers were not aggressive as they...

The cattle market did not want to do much ahead of the Cattle on Feed report Friday and futures had little reason to move higher based on cash cattle trade. Hog futures diverged as traders were concerned over near-term...

Live cattle futures eliminated the gains of Wednesday and then some on Thursday. Lower cash trade came to fruition as feared. Feedlots are anxious to move cattle. Hogs continued the liquidation with further weakness of cutouts...

Cattle futures held their own and did not uncover aggressive buying interest Wednesday. Feeder cattle showed minor losses in most contracts with traders looking ahead to cash and the Cattle on Feed report. Hog futures took a...

Live cattle futures struggled with nearby contracts slipping lower Tuesday. Feeder cattle found solid buying interest with March rebounding over $3.00. Hog futures closed higher across the board with gains limited to double-digits...

Cattle futures were under pressure Friday due to the weakness of cash. Feedlots decided to hold out and carry cattle over to the next week. Hog futures slipped lower as February went off the board and ahead of the extended...

Cattle futures found footing Thursday, but that may not be enough to change the trend unless cash trades higher. Boxed beef may limit the gains. Hogs tried to minimize the losses for a while but succumbed to pressure with April...

Cattle futures chopped around much of Wednesday with live cattle closing mixed and feeder slightly higher as traders waited for cash direction. Hog futures were solidly higher with new highs across the complex.

Cattle futures were unable to break out of the recent downtrend with selling pressure resuming on Tuesday. Hog futures pushed higher as traders felt confident of stronger pork prices and demand.

Cattle futures rebounded Monday because contracts were oversold relative to cash. Liquidation can move the market more than it should and the price needs to correct. Hogs showed pressure during the day, but were able to close...

Cattle had a tough week last week. Traders will be cautious about stepping into the market aggressively and there is concern that further cash weakness will develop this week. Hog futures held well during the week with the July...

Cattle futures plummeted Thursday as a top is in for now. Traders are liquidating and the record-long futures position is exaggerating the weakness. Lower cash trade adds to the pressure. Hogs showed their resilience with early...

The liquidation of the past week ran its course with traders willing to step back into the cattle market. The selling was a bit overdone relative to the cash market, but cash looks weaker this week. Hog futures were higher...

Cattle futures extended losses Tuesday. Even though tariffs with Mexico and Canada have been put on hold, traders remain nervous. Hog futures moved sharply higher Tuesday, regaining the losses of Monday.

The livestock complex was hit hard Monday, caused by the resumption of the imports of feeder cattle from Mexico and the imposing of tariffs on both Canada and Mexico. The uncertainty provided a lot of pressure on that market...

Cattle futures were able to hold into the close Friday. The cash market was up strong during the week, which provided support into the weekend. Hogs struggled, moving through the close of the week. There is some question over...

Cattle futures came under pressure as liquidation continued for the second day. That may come to an end as cash cattle traded higher on Thursday. Hog futures held their own, even though cash and cutouts did not provide support.

Cattle took a breather Wednesday with traders realizing the market was higher than it should be. Hogs made news highs in some contracts but fell back as buying interest dried up.

The cattle market is a sight to behold with live cattle futures showing strong gains for the fifth consecutive day on Tuesday. Boxed beef is supporting the strong gains. Hog futures have had a similar movement, but without the...

Live cattle were on a roller coaster Monday with stronger early trade giving way to weakness before returning to a nice close. Hogs posted triple-digit gains fueled by trader optimism.

The cattle markets were explosive last week, posting strong gains and new all-time highs. Feedlots held out and were rewarded with higher cash. The Cattle on Feed report should provide further support. Hog futures pushed higher...

Cattle futures continued to push higher Thursday with new contract highs across the board. It seems as if the upward momentum will never subside. Feedlots continue to hold for higher cash. Hog futures closed mixed with little...

The cattle complex moved to new contract highs across the board Wednesday. Bullish traders stepped into the market, buying aggressively as steady prices are is expected to dominate this week's cash market. Hogs showed some...

Live cattle traders could not decide which direction to move while feeder cattle came under pressure as the market remained in a sideways range Tuesday. Hogs came under further pressure with triple-digit losses in the April...

Cattle futures had the higher cash trade for the week factored in with futures closing mixed Friday ahead of the extended weekend. Traders may look ahead to a week of renewed optimism after higher cash last week. Hogs fell as...

The livestock complex took a breather Thursday, even though the news and fundamentals were not bearish. Cattle futures are at lofty levels at which traders may not be willing to add to their long positions and would rather...

Cattle futures found support on Wednesday with mostly triple-digit gains into the close. Limited cash trade took place at $1.00 higher. Hogs found further strength with June and July closing above $104 on better demand.

Live cattle futures showed minor losses Tuesday as traders chose not to be aggressive buyers until cash provides direction. The January contract in feeder cattle led the way as the price spread widened. Hogs found solid buying...

Cattle futures took a breather Monday with traders deciding to take some profits after the incredible run higher. Boxed beef continued to remain strong. Hog futures fell back from their highs but managed a higher close in all...

Livestock futures pushed higher Friday with cattle reaching new contract highs. New records continue to unfold with April nearing the $200 level. Hog futures saw strong buying interest as traders seem to feel the low is in and...

Livestock futures were higher Thursday. Cattle futures were sharply higher with cash cattle at record highs. Beef prices continue to advance on strong demand. Hogs increased in spillover trading as underlying fundamentals did not...

Traders decided not to wait to see what cash does this week but decided to bank some profits just in case. Both feeder and live cattle futures showed similar losses. Hog futures were under some pressure but the losses were...

Cattle futures pushed higher Tuesday, but were again unable to hold all of the gains made during the day. However, the market continues to improve, setting the stage for higher prices. Hogs...

The strength of cash cattle last week supported cattle futures on Monday. Feedlots and traders are optimistic higher cash prices will again unfold this week. Hog futures showed impressive resilience despite the continued weakness...

Even though cattle futures closed lower Friday, the losses did not damage the uptrend. Traders decided to take profits despite the bullish fundamentals. Hog futures remained under pressure, making another low and closing lower.

Live cattle futures pushed to new contract highs thursday while feeder cattle extended their pattern of new highs. Higher cash cattle trade fueled trader buying interest. Hog futures struggled for the first two hours but...

Cattle futures continue to grind higher. March and later feeder cattle contracts made new highs as demand remains good and packers need cattle, likely resulting in higher cash. Hogs closed moderately lower on Tuesday and...

Cattle futures did not show much on Monday with a mixed close for live cattle and minor gains for feeder cattle. It is doubtful cash cattle will trade Tuesday. Hog futures took it on the chin Monday with substantial losses and...

Feeder cattle and deferred live cattle futures broke through technical resistance on Friday to resume the uptrend. Higher cash cattle trade and the strength of boxed beef provided support. Hog traders could not find much to...

There was not much for traders to go on during the shortened trading day on Tuesday. There were no reports of cash cattle trading and no reports of boxed beef prices. Hog futures followed a similar pattern as trading activity...

Live cattle futures could not find the support they needed on Monday as traders are uncertain about cash strength this week. The strength of the cattle complex was confined to the January feeder cattle contract. Hogs fell...

The livestock complex was higher on Friday as traders were comfortable they were positioned ahead of the Cattle on Feed report and cash held as it traded earlier in the week. Hogs pushed higher on renewed optimism over demand.