US cattle futures traded higher early on Tuesday (Jun 1) as investors bet that a warm, rain-free holiday weekend over much of the US had millions of Americans grilling beef steaks on backyard grills.

A higher stock market, boosted by growth in US manufacturing, also helped guide cattle higher.

The three-day US Memorial Day weekend is seen as the kickoff for the summer grilling season, in which enthusiasts shop for beef steaks, pork chops, hot dogs and other cookout favourites.

The rise in cattle futures follows a sharp decline from mid-May, as a seasonal slowdown in beef sales and sharp losses in the stock market had investors selling. Such selling has slowed the past few sessions, stabilising futures.

Hog futures were lower as investors reacted to lower cash markets, rather than to prospects for robust weekend pork sales.

Cash hog prices have been trending lower as pork plants have reduced production in reaction to fewer hogs and to an expected seasonal slowdown in pork sales.