Lean hog futures reach new highs - CME

Apr 28, 2025

Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) live and feeder cattle futures climbed on Wednesday as investors hoped for de-escalation in the US- China trade conflict, reported Reuters.

CME June live cattle futures reached life of contract highs and settled up 1.825 cents at 208.100 cents per pound and August feeder cattle futures ended 0.925 cent higher at 292.175 cents per pound.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told reporters on Wednesday that the high tariffs currently on imports between the United States and China - 145% on Chinese products and 125% on US products - could not last.

"Neither side believes that these are sustainable levels. As I said yesterday, this is the equivalent of an embargo and a break between the two countries in trade does not suit anyone's interest," Bessent said.

That factor, as well as a strong cash cattle trade, supported cattle futures on Wednesday, according to Doug Houghton, analyst at Brock Associates.

Tight feeder cattle supplies continued to underpin the market, while weaker CBOT corn futures also offered support.

Packers lost an estimated $134.10 per head of cattle, according to livestock marketing advisory service HedgersEdge.com, compared with losses of $77.75 per head a week ago.

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Video: Sweetener Effects on Gut Health - Dr. Kwangwook Kim

In this episode of The Swine Nutrition Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Kwangwook Kim, Assistant Professor at Michigan State University, discusses the use of non-nutritive sweeteners in nursery pig diets. He explains how sucralose and neotame influence feed intake, gut health, metabolism, and the frequency of diarrhea compared to antibiotics. The conversation highlights mechanisms beyond palatability, including hormone signaling and nutrient transport. Listen now on all major platforms!

“Receptors responsible for sweet taste are present not only in the mouth but also along the intestinal tract.”

Meet the guest: Dr. Kwangwook Kim / kwangwook-kim is an Assistant Professor at Michigan State University, specializing in swine nutrition and feed additives under disease challenge models. He earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Animal Sciences from the University of California, Davis, where he focused on intestinal health and metabolic responses in pigs. His research evaluates alternatives to antibiotics, targeting gut health and performance in nursery pigs.