Live Cattle Higher On Canadian Mad Cow

Live cattle futures are trading higher Friday just after the market open. Market chatter about a mad cow case in Canada is making the rounds and has firmed the U.S. cattle futures. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency confirmed a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, (Mad Cow) disease in a beef cow in Alberta. The case is the first in Canada since 2011. April live cattle is trading at 152.55, up 1.37. June live cattle is trading at 144.85, up 1.07. Trading has been choppy early on. Traders are expecting more back and forth trading ahead of Monday's U.S. Presidents' day holiday.