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Host Chip Flory talks with Christine McCracken, Executive Director, Animal Protein for RaboAgriFinance, who explains additional slaughter capacity in the U.S. should help the hog market continue the price recovery

Despite increased beef production in 2018, up nearly 4% so far this year, beef demand has been quite strong and has limited beef and cattle price pressure in the first half of the year.

Additional cattle are continuing to come to feedyards, but fortunately there’s been several market factors at play to help offset beef supplies, at least for now, said Craig VanDyke, Top Third Ag Marketing.

Grilling season is here and Memorial Day marks one of the biggest meat consumption weekends of the year. Chicken has been the champion protein in recent weeks, with restaurants driving much of the demand.

April placements of cattle on feed totaled 9% more than a year ago, with marketings 7% higher.

China made its second-largest purchase of U.S. pork this week. Rabobank says China will need to continue to source protein from the U.S., as the list of countries able to export is short.

USDA’s cattle on feed survey data can have inherent problems, but additionally, we don’t really know the feeding performance of cattle in feedlots in the major feeding regions.

This week should show us how willing the packers are to pull May contracts.

The strong start for beef and cattle markets is encouraging but plenty of challenges remain in 2018.

Cattle markets finding strong fundamental reasons to remain positive despite the threat of disruption from trade negotiations.