Hog prices edge higher on short covering, technical buying - CME
Cattle futures climb on tight supplies and cheaper feed
14 January 2026
1 minute read
By: Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) cattle futures advanced for a second straight session on Tuesday, supported by tight supplies, firm packer demand and weaker feed corn costs, Reuters reported, citing traders.
Rising wholesale beef prices following a beef production slowdown during the year-end holidays offered additional support along with concerns about the ongoing US suspension of cattle imports from Mexico due to the spread of New World screwworm south of the border.
"After the holiday weeks, you've got more people looking for cattle, and they're certainly bidding them up with the momentum we've seen here lately. Plus, you get a little bit of the additional support from corn fading back," said Matthew Wiegand, a broker with FuturesOne.
CME March feeder cattle futures settled 5.950 cents higher at 362.125 cents per pound and February live cattle futures rose 2.000 cents to close at 237.250 cents per pound. Both hit their highest levels since late October during the session.
The US Department of Agriculture quoted the choice boxed beef cutout value at $357.99 per hundredweight on Tuesday afternoon, up 88 cents from Monday and the highest in three weeks. Select cuts dipped by 87 cents to $357.18 per cwt after reaching a two-month high a day earlier.
CME lean hog futures firmed on Tuesday on short covering and technical buying after two days of declines, although prices remain capped by ample supplies of hogs.
Actively traded February futures ended 0.200 cent higher at 84.625 cents per pound. The contract held technical chart support at its 200-day moving average but hit overhead resistance at its 50-day average.
