Trade for the start of the week was indicated as flat to lower with continued unease in the market negatively pressuring values. Ruminant meat and bonemeal (MBM), Mo. River was indicated lower with a limited volume trade reported at $175/st, while the bulk was indicated in the published range. 

For the week ending December 9, 2023, cattle slaughter is forecast at 635,000 head, 2.1 percent down from 2022 and 4.9 percent lower than last week. Over the next six weeks, cattle slaughter is projected to average 598,330 head per week, 0.2 percent higher than 2022 for the respective time.

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