According to Reuters, investors also squared bets ahead of the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) quarterly hog and pig supply report, released after the close, which showed a continued herd expansion that was near trade expectations.

Ample supplies of hogs and pork have overshadowed hog futures in recent months and prompted commodity funds to slash their long bets and build up short positions.

"Tomorrow is the end of the month, end of the quarter. The funds have been pounding this hog market lower for at least the last six weeks so this turn was short-covering heading into this (quarterly hog supply) number," said Jeff French, analyst with Top Third Ag Marketing.

"But I don't see anything this number to go ahead and start a bull market. It shows that this market is still full expansion mode," he said.

The USDA said the US hog herd on 1 June was up 3.6 percent from a year earlier, above estimates for a 3.0 percent rise. The number of hogs kept for breeding increased 1.4 percent, versus estimates for a 2.1 percent rise, while hogs kept for marketing jumped 3.9 percent, above estimates for a 3.1 percent rise.

CME July lean hogs were up 0.275 cent at 73.825 cents per pound while actively traded August gained 1.700 cents to 77.175 cents per pound.

Hog prices were underpinned by solid US pork export sales last week totalling 29,700 tonnes, including 10,400 tonnes sold to China, the most in three weeks, according to USDA data.

China is expected to import much more pork this year as its domestic hog herd has been decimated by African swine fever. US pork shipments have accelerated, but volumes have thus far been below expectations.

Live cattle futures ended slightly weaker in most contracts in a mild profit-taking pullback after early week gains.

Actively traded CME August live cattle ended down 0.025 cent at 105.350 cents per pound. Spot June futures, which expire at the end of the week, were up 1.575 cents at 110.575 cents per pound, reflecting market expectations for steady cash cattle prices this week.

Feeder cattle also eased after surging on technical buying and short covering a day earlier.

CME August feeder cattle dipped 0.025 cent to 135.800 cents per pound.