The protein markets were quiet today, coming off of the holiday break. Most market participants were back in the office, but there was not much talk on market direction. Sellers seem to be pushing for higher prices following the soybean meal market’s surge over the last two weeks.

Hog slaughter is forecasted this week at 2.6 million head, down 3.5 percent from a year prior levels and up 20 percent compared with last week. Slaughter is forecast at an average of 2.53 million head per week over the…