John Harrington

After emerging from the economic recession of the last decade, the U.S. beef herd has been in expansion gear since 2014. Black-cow genetics make up a large part of that herd.

Meat producers would do well to keep the border wall war-talk strapped in the backseat and concentrate instead on the possibly dire demand consequences that threaten to flow from the still-ongoing partial government shutdown...

Live and feeder futures settled sharply lower, checked by long liquidation, wobbly beef demand and moderating feeding weather. On the other hand, lean hog issues finished on a mixed basis thanks to uncertain pork demand in the...

Look for the cattle complex at the CME to begin on a mixed basis thanks to cash premiums on one hand and late-week profit-taking on the other. Lean hog issues are also expected to open mixed with nearbys better supported...

The cattle complex settled lower with live issues moderately lower and feeder counterparts off by triple digits. Lean hog contracts finished with mixed price results as nearbys gained on deferreds.

Look for live and feeder futures to open on a firm basis, supported by higher cutouts and extended cash strength. Lean hog contracts seem likely to open on a mixed basis as traders cautiously assess early January fundamentals.

Hog futures settled moderately higher for the most part, supported by short covering in light volume. The cattle complex closed with uneven price action.

Live and feeder futures should open Monday higher, supported stronger feedlot sales late Friday and follow-through buying. On the other hand, look for lean hog contracts to begin more on a mixed basis with early-week traders...

The cattle complex closed the last full week of 2018 mostly higher in the live trade and mixed in the feeder market. On the other hand, lean hog issues settled mostly lower linked to long liquidation, thin volume and a general lack of...

Look for cattle complex futures to open slowly mixed as bulls and bears jockey ahead of late December cash sales. Lean hog contracts should also start out on both sides of unchanged, tied to short-covering and long liquidation.

The cattle complex surged sharply higher Thursday with nearby contracts setting new highs. Lean hog issues closed on a mixed basis with spot Feb gaining on deferred counterparts.

Lean hog contracts are expected to open moderately lower, checked by long liquidation and defensive fundamentals. On the other hand, look for the cattle complex to start out with mixed prices tied to light volume and feedlot cash...

The cattle complex settled mixed in the live trade and moderately higher in the feeder market. Lean hog contracts finished mostly higher with modest red only evident in a few far-deferred months.

The cattle complex is expected to resume business with mixed price action as traders assess late-year market potential. On the other hand, lean hog contracts seem set to open moderately lower Wednesday tied to spillover selling...

Hog contracts closed in the red thanks to slow long liquidation and a general lack of pre-holiday buying interest. The cattle complex settled mostly higher at the conclusion of an abbreviated trading session devoid of consistent...

Look for a slow, do-nothing trade affair Monday morning as meat futures put in a few business hours before breaking for the Christmas recess. A minimal amount of cash hog trading is possible at lower money.

With virtually no attention paid to new supply data released by USDA on Thursday, cattle traders exited for the Christmas holiday tied to lackluster settlements. Lean hog issues also finished in slow motion and without definite...

Expect cattle futures to open in a narrow range with mixed prices as traders await cash development in thin volume. Similarly, lean hog issues should begin with uneven price action tied to limited short-covering and profit-taking.

The cattle complex settled higher ahead of on-feed news with feeders outrunning their live counterparts. On the other hand, lean hog issues closed narrowly mixed as traders positioned ahead of the Dec. 1 quarterly inventory.

Lean contracts are likely to open lower in the face of defensive wholesale product demand. On the other hand, the CME cattle complex seems set to open on a mixed basis as traders cautiously position ahead of the Dec. 1 Cattle on...

Live and feeder futures settled on both sides of unchanged without indicating much of a trend preference. Lean hog contracts closed modestly higher, for the most part, thanks to light short-covering and positioning ahead of the...

Look for cattle futures to open on a mixed basis thanks to a combination of residual selling and short-covering. Lean hog contracts should also with uneven price action as traders position further ahead of the Dec. 1 Hogs &...

The cattle complex closed significantly lower Monday with triple-digit losses particularly dominating the feeder trade. Lean hog issues also settled in determined retreat, pressured by bearish fundamentals expected to last through...

Hog contracts should open Monday moderately lower, initially checked by an assessment of large ready numbers and the uncertain adequacy of late-year pork demand. On the other hand, look for the cattle complex to slowly strike...

Live and feeder contracts concluded the week with slow volume and moderately lower settlements. Though traders seemed patiently awaiting cash news, neither side acted with much anticipatory expectation. Lean hog issues closed on...

Live and feeder contracts are likely to open cautiously mixed as traders consider the likelihood of late-week cash strength. Lean hog issues should also begin with uneven price action as spot December prepares to expire.

The cattle complex settled mostly higher with feeder issues gaining more ground on their live counterparts. On the other hand, lean hog futures closed lower for the most part, worried by large board premiums and the adequacy of...

Expect lean hog futures to start out moderately lower, checked by board premiums and softening carcass value. The cattle complex should open on a mixed basis as traders position ahead of cash potential.

The cattle complex closed moderately higher as traders cautiously engaged in short covering and considered the possibility of late year packer demand for feeder steers and heifers. Lean hog contracts also settled s higher...

Live and feeder contracts should open Tuesday with a firm undertone thanks to cutout strength and cash premiums. On the other hand, lean hog futures could begin on the defensive, checked by cautious fundamentals.

Live and feeder issues moved toward midmonth with mixed price action as the former lost ground to the latter. Lean hog futures also settled on a mixed basis with spot December reclaiming some price territory formerly lost to 2019...

Live and feeder contracts should initially open higher, supported by late-week packer spending and stronger wholesale product sales. On the other hand, lean hog issues are likely to start out with mixed price action with deferreds...

With the modest exception of spot December and far deferred contracts, lean hog issues closed moderately higher, supported in parts by production threats for 2019 tied to further expansion of ASF. The cattle complex settled...

Live and feeder futures seem staged to open mixed thanks to a slow and cautious combination of short-covering and cash monitoring. Lean hog issues should also open with uneven price action as traders puzzle over the ability of...

The cattle complex closed lower, deprived of any inspirational cash activity. Feeder issues fell harder than their live counterparts. Lean hog contracts also settled in the red with traders nervous about the sustaining strength of...

Torn between lower cash sales and higher carcass value, lean hog futures seem likely to open on a mixed basis Thursday. Live and feeder contracts should open moderately higher, supported by follow-through buying and cash premiums.

The cattle complex settled with respectable price progress with feeder issues outperforming their live counterparts. On the other hand, lean hog contracts ended widely mixed as spot December faltered in the face of triple-digit...

The cattle complex seems likely to open mixed tied to follow-through selling on one hand and short-covering on the other. Lean hog issues are also expected to begin with uneven price action as traders cautiously access late-year...

Live and feeder contracts closed mostly lower Monday, pressured by late-year cash nervousness and firming corn prices. Lean hog issues finished no better than mixed despite optimistic speculation of improving U.S.-China trade.

Look for the cattle complex to open higher Monday, supported by stronger packer spending that surfaced late Friday. On the other hand, lean hog futures should open on a mixed basis, supported by board premiums and checked by...

The cattle complex settled mixed in the live market and moderately lower in the feeder trade. Lean hog contracts closed with uneven and unexciting settlements thanks to a lackluster combination of long liquidation and short covering.

Live and feeder contracts are expected to open on a mixed basis as the cash market remains undecided. Lean hog futures should open at least moderately higher, supported by follow-through buying and late-week bull-spreading.

Lean hog futures closed with significant price progress Thursday thanks to improving fundamental prospects. The cattle complex finished on a defensive basis with feeder issues attracting the most selling interest.

Look for cattle futures to begin with steady/firm price action as traders await to assess the size of late-week packer spending. At the same time, lean hog contracts are expected to open on a mixed basis with nearbys holding up...

The cattle complex settled with uneven trends as feeder issues generally lose ground to their live counterparts. Lean hog futures once again saw deferred contracts falter vis-a-vis nearby contracts.

The cattle complex should be cautious on the opening with both buyers and sellers confused over late-week cash potential. Lean hog issues are likely to begin near steady thanks to fairly consistent fundamentals.

Hog futures closed on a mixed basis with nearbys outperforming deferreds. On the other hand, the cattle complex finished moderately lower thanks to lackluster buying interest and cash market uncertainty.

Lean hog contracts should open mixed thanks to a combination of residual selling and firming carcass value. Similarly, the cattle complex also seems set to open with no definite trend as buyers and sellers cautiously debate the...

Lean hog issues closed with triple-digit losses Monday, pressured by long liquidation and uncertain late-year pork demand. The cattle complex, for the most part, settled moderately lower, reflecting indecision and confusion over the...

Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.7 million head on Nov. 1, 2018. The inventory was 3% above Nov. 1, 2017, USDA reported Wednesday.

The cattle complex should open moderately higher, supported by short-covering and late-year cash stability. Lean hog issues are also expected to open on a firm basis thanks to spillover buying and shifting retail demand back...

The cattle complex settled higher the day following Thanksgiving, supported by decent packer spending and the friendly Nov. 1 Cattle on Feed report. Lean hog issues also closed securely in the green with the help of late-week...

Live and feeder contracts should open higher, supported by friendly on feed numbers and follow-through buying interest. Conversely, lean hog issues should open on a mixed basis tied to residual selling interest on one hand and...

The cattle complex closed with a firm undertone thanks to late-session short-covering and friendly on-feed news. Lean hog contracts finished moderately lower, checked by profit-taking and overbought deferreds.