1.   As grain prices rise, cattle and hog farmers will send animals to market before they reach their maximum market weight to save on feeding costs.

2.   After birth, pigs generally need about six months to reach market weight.

3.   After birth, pigs generally need six months to reach market weight.

4.   After the decision is made to increasing breeding, it takes almost two years for cattle to be born and grow to market weight.

5.   During the summer, feedlot operators increased purchases of young cattle as lower feed costs boosted margins for raising the animals to market weight.

6.   During the warmer months, some ranchers keep young cattle on grass to fatten them to market weight, rather than selling them to feedlots.

7.   Elsewhere, feeder cattle futures fell as corn prices rose, making it more expensive to raise the young cattle to market weight.

8.   Feeder cattle futures fell on persistent concern that demand will wane as it becomes less profitable to raise the young animals to market weight.

9.   For the past several months, feedlot operators have increased purchases of young cattle as lower feed costs boosted margins for raising the animals to market weight.

10.   High grain costs forced some farmers to sell their hogs before the animals reached market weight, rather than shoulder the rising cost of feeding their hog herd.