Live Cattle Drop on Weak Cash Prices, Big Supply; Hogs Rebound

Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures dropped for a third straight session on Wednesday on weakening cash cattle prices and plentiful supplies of market-ready animals, traders said.

Actively traded CME August live cattle futures settled 1.350 cents lower at 99.050 cents per pound, its lowest since April 4. June cattle ended down 1.150 cents at 101.825 cents.

Futures are down more than 5 percent this week as packers have been buying cattle at sharply lower prices at U.S. Plains feedlot markets. The bulk of the week's cattle offerings remain unsold, but cash prices are expected to remain weak, traders said.

Fed cattle supplies are expected to remain ample for at least the next month, they said.

"The packers have the market power and they are flexing their muscles right now," said Rich Nelson, chief strategist with Allendale Inc.

A moderate number of cattle at U.S. Plains feedlot markets have already traded from $112 to $118 per cwt, well below last week's sales of mostly $122 per cwt, traders said.

No cattle were sold at Wednesday's Fed Cattle Exchange auction.

Wholesale beef prices have edged lower in recent days, but packer margins remain stout. The average beef plant margin on Wednesday was estimated at $173.95 per head, up from $142.55 a week ago, according to livestock marketing advisory service HedgersEdge.com.

Feeder cattle futures fell in tandem with sinking live cattle, with the actively-traded August contract ending 1.725 cents lower at 136.725 cents per pound. 

Hogs Rebound

Lean hog futures rebounded from the prior day's losses, supported by tightening hog supplies and expectations for seasonally improving demand for pork.

Gains, however, were capped by concerns that exports could slow if negotiations for a revamped North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) are unsuccessful.

CME June hogs gained 1.175 cents to 75.900 cents per pound while July hogs ended 1.025 cents higher at 78.725 cents.