Lean hogs edge higher amid firm market sentiment - CME

Jun 27, 2025

Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) live cattle fell to a 3-1/2 week low on Monday on long liquidation by funds and profit-taking following recent all-time highs, Reuters reported, citing traders.

The market retreated despite neutral to bullish data in the monthly US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Cattle on Feed report released after the close on Friday as a recent surge in beef prices showed further signs of waning, they said.

"The funds are big longs in the market, and I think it's fair to say that the cash market is starting to put in our seasonal top," said Don Roose, president of US Commodities. "We've got the peak (beef) demand behind us and the cutout probably is in the process of topping."

Demand for beef is expected to decline following a series of holidays when beef consumption typically rises, including Father's Day and the upcoming US Independence Day holiday.

However, concerns waned about a bigger hit to beef demand due to a weekend oil-price surge after the US bombed Iran as crude oil prices fell sharply on Monday. High consumer gas prices can at times hurt demand for premium-priced cuts of beef.

CME August live cattle settled 0.450 cent lower at 209.375 cents per pound after hitting its lowest point since May 28. But the benchmark contract held underlying technical chart support at its 50-day moving average.

Click here to see more...

Video: You Be The Judge: Evaluating 8 Breeding Rams!

It's time for some honest feedback here at Ewetopia Farms! Today, we’re showing you all eight rams we used for breeding this year. Instead of just presenting them, we thought it would be fun to create a “Ram Report Card” — where we point out both their strengths and areas for improvement.

But here’s the twist: you be the judge! In the comments, let us know what you like about each ram and what you think could be improved. No ram is ever perfect, but every one of them brings something valuable to the flock. By sharing perspectives, we all learn more about what to look for in good breeding stock.

At Ewetopia Farms, we raise registered Suffolk and Polled Dorset sheep, focusing on high-quality genetics, structure, and friendly temperaments. Evaluating breeding rams is part of the bigger picture of building stronger flocks — and we’re excited to share the process with you.

If you enjoy seeing how we evaluate our animals, follow along by subscribing to our channel. We share daily insights into the joys and challenges of sheep farming here in Canada.