Broiler slaughter is forecast at 169.2 million head this week before reaching a projected peak, next week, at 171.7 million head. Over the next six weeks broiler slaughter is forecast to decrease, averaging 164.4 million head per week, down 3.9 percent from 2019 levels and down 0.7 percent from the prior six week average. The slower production, buying ahead of the holiday break and higher soybean meal prices help to explain the…