CME cattle rise on stronger beef demand, lower corn prices

Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) cattle futures rose on Tuesday with beef demand increasing ahead of the approaching Labor Day holiday and as corn futures dipped following the U.S. Department of Agriculture's weekly crop progress and condition report.

Meanwhile, lean hog futures fell on seasonal price pressure.

CME most-active October live cattle (LCV24) closed up 0.725 cent at 180.750 cents per pound. Most-active October feeder cattle (FCV24) finished 2.200 cents higher at 239.925 cents per pound.

Cattle futures were supported by stronger boxed beef prices, said Austin Schroeder, analyst with Brugler Marketing.

"There's some retail demand trying to come in ahead of the Labor Day holiday," said Schroeder, referring to the U.S. holiday commonly celebrated by grilling outside.

He noted that while rising corn futures had pressured feeder cattle prices yesterday, Tuesday's lower corn prices supported them.

Corn futures fell on Tuesday after the USDA's weekly crop progress and condition report, released on Monday after the close of the session, showed the condition of the nation's corn was better than trade expectations.

The previous day, a rally in the Chicago corn futures market ZC1! had pressured cattle futures as corn is a key component of livestock feed.

Meanwhile lean hog futures fell on changes in seasonal demand, said Schroeder.

"Typically we post that seasonal high some time in summer and start to drop into the fall," he said.

"I think we're facing a little bit of seasonal pressure."

Traders have rolled positions out of the August live hog contract (LHQ24) as the contract nears its expiration.

CME October lean hog futures (LHV24) ended down 1.476 cents at 72.850 cents per pound.