Typical for Monday, limited trade was reported for the start of the week with most participants testing the market. 

For the week ending August 19th, cattle slaughter is forecast at 620,000 head, a 6.7 percent decrease from 2022 but a 2.8 percent increase from last week. Over the next six weeks, cattle slaughter is projected to average 622,500 head per week, down 5.1 percent and 2.0 percent from 2022 and 2021, respectively. The potential for figures below this forecast is likely due to the combination of persistent reports of very tight market ready cattle and limited slaughter on Saturdays. As of mid-July, slaughter levels have been forecasted lower than the prior two years, with 640 thousand max head a week for August and September as head counts remain under prior levels.

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