A quiet tone was indicated at the start of the week for animal proteins, typical for Monday. 

For the week ending August 12th, 2023, hog slaughter is forecast at 2.350 million head, a 0.9-percent increase from 2022 and less than half percent higher than last week. According to the USDA Actual Slaughter Under Federal Inspection for July 22nd, average live weights were at 281 pounds. Over the next six weeks, hog slaughter is projected to average 2.371 million head per week, around half a percent from 2021 and 2022 levels for the respective time.

Based on the Estimated Weekly Meat Production from the USDA, hog slaughter for week ending Aug 5th was at 2.338 million head, a 0.1-percent, or 3,000 head, rise from the respective week in 2022. Year-to-date hogs slaughter is currently at 74.477 million head, 1.3 percent above 2022 for the same time. Production levels, 2023 year-to-date, are at 15.996 million pounds, 0.4 percent above 2021.

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