US hogs hit new lows - CME

Apr 17, 2023

Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) live cattle futures firmed on Wednesday on expectations for higher US cash prices this week, as lean hog futures set contract lows, Reuters reported, citing analysts.

Cash cattle were bid at about $168 per cwt in the southern Plains, roughly $1 higher than the bulk of trading last week, said Dennis Smith, commodity broker for Archer Financial Services. Meatpackers will need to pay more to strike deals, he said.

"If they want the cattle, they're going to have to bid higher than $168," Smith said, adding that prices may rise to $170 per cwt.

Meat processors slaughtered an estimated 123,000 cattle on Wednesday, down from 127,000 cattle a week ago and 124,000 cattle last year, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) said.

The agency reported boxed beef prices rose, while HedgersEdge.com said processors' margins climbed to $80.15 per head of cattle from $59.15 per head on Tuesday and $52.45 per head a week ago.

April live cattle finished 0.800 cent stronger at 168.400 cents per pound, and June live cattle ended up 0.075 cent at 160.300 cents per pound.

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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.