Market Activity & Analysis

The Jacobsen Hide Index on Friday closed at $14.96 compared to $15.26 Friday the week prior. Big packer steer quotes included HNS from $23.50, BBS from $16 to $21.50, BS at $13, and CBS at $13 and HTS at $18 FOB plant. 

The Week’s Slaughter Forecast

The Jacobsen slaughter forecast for this week is 475,000 head, and if realized, will be 191,600 head less the same week last year when it was 666,600.

Cattle slaughter finished last week 425,000 head, down 37 percent from a year ago and 9 percent relative to the year prior. Slaughter is forecast to rebound in June after the lower numbers in April. Over the next six weeks, slaughter is forecast at an average of 599,200 head, up an average of 4 percent from the prior six weeks and down 8 percent compared to last year.