Market Activity & Analysis

The Jacobsen Hide Index on Friday closed at $14.21 compared to $14.28 Friday the week prior. Big packer steer quotes included Heavy Native Steers (HNS) from $25, Butt Branded Steers (BBS) from $19.50 to $20.50, Branded Steers (BS) at $13, and Colorado Branded Steers (CBS) at $13 and Heavy Texas Steers (HTS) at $15 FOB plant. 

The Week’s Slaughter Forecast

The Jacobsen slaughter forecast for this week is 655,000 head, and if realized, will be 3,400 head less the same week last year when it was 658,400.

Cattle slaughter finished last week 593,000 head, up 2.6 percent from a year ago. Over the next six weeks, slaughter is forecast at an average of 660,000 head, up an average of 6.5 percent from the prior six weeks and up 1.6 percent compared to last year. 

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