Light trade was indicated to start the week, typical for Monday. For week ending July 1st, 2023, hog slaughter is forecasted at 2.325 million head, a 1.8-percent increase from 2022 but a 1.1-percent drop on the week, with lower slaughter levels expected for summer season. According to the USDA Actual Slaughter Under Federal Inspection for May 20th, average live weights were at 286 pounds. Over the next six weeks, hog slaughter is expected to average 2.262 million head per week, up 1.1 percent from 2022 and 1.0 percent from 2021 levels for the respective time.

Based on the Estimated Weekly Meat Production from the USDA hog slaughter for week ending June 17th was at 2.372 million head, up 2.6 percent, or 60,000 head, from the respective week in 2022. Year-to-date hog slaughter is currently at 60.805 million head, up 1.2 percent from 2022 for the same time.

Fig. 1

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