**Please note – Lexi Watts is out of the office this week and will return on Monday, Dec 11. In her absence, please contact Ryan Capozziello at [email protected].**

There was a lot of activity in the hide market today. Northern and Southwestern branded cows had a decline of $0.25, while light and medium weight butt branded steers dropped by $1.25. Heavy branded heifers also decreased by $1.00, while medium weight Colorado branded steers fell by $0.50. Additionally, heavy native steers were down by $0.25, and heavy Texas steers traded $1.00 below last reported price levels. 

Cattle Slaughter Forecast

Cattle slaughter is forecast by The Jacobsen at 635,00 head this week, which is unchanged from last week but down 2.05 percent from last year. Cattle slaughter finished last week at an estimated 635,000 head, up 18 percent from the week prior and down 3.86 percent from last…