The market was very quiet today coming off of the long holiday weekend. Most were getting their logistics and bid/offer ideas ready for the week and looking ahead to the Christmas and New Year’s break, which is just four short weeks away.

Cattle slaughter finished last week at an estimated 538,000 head, down nearly 100,000 from the week prior due to the Thanksgiving holiday. Slaughter is forecast at 645,000 this week before retreating through the remainder of the year. Over the next six weeks slaughter is forecast at an average of 599,200 head, down 3.0 percent from the prior six-week average.

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