Late Friday, ten cars of packer BFT traded at higher prices. Yellow grease was reported higher out of the California markets late on Friday as well, but today has been quiet.

For the week ending October 9^th, 2021, cattle slaughter is forecast at 650,000 head; a 2 percent growth from 2020; a 2 percent increase from the previous week;and a 0.3 percent rise from 2019. According to the USDA Actual Slaughter Under Federal Inspection for September 30^th, average live weights are currently at 1,367 pounds, 3 pounds below the week prior and 21 pounds under the respective period for 2020. Over the next six weeks, cattle slaughter is averaging 648,130 head per week, a 0.46 percent decrease from the prior six-week average. The harvest is projected to run 0.1 percent below 2020 levels and 0.6 percent below 2019.

Fig. 1

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