Trading was mostly quiet today in the animal protein market. There was some late trading Friday in the feed grade poultry by market at lower prices out of the Mid-South.

Cattle slaughter finished last week at a robust 666,000 head, up 6 percent from a year ago and up 20.7 percent relative to the year prior. Slaughter is forecast to move lower over the next six weeks. This week, slaughter is projected out at 655,000 head, up 0.8 percent from last week. Over the next six weeks, slaughter is forecast at an average of 645,000 head, down an average of 2 percent from the prior six weeks. Time…