Light and regular weight Butt Branded Steer (BBS) hides that traded $0.50/piece lower than Friday’s reports and the rest of the market was relatively quiet to start the week.
BBS prices were lower due to pushback from Chinese buyers and overall limited demand. Korean and Mexican tanners were, for the most part, inactive over the week.
Market activity is expected to pick up tomorrow but will most likely be a slow trading week due to the holiday celebrations around the world, including Carnival, Spring Festival Golden Week, and Lunar New Year.

Cattle Slaughter Forecast

Cattle slaughter is forecast by The Jacobsen at 625,00 head this week, which is up 0.48 percent from last week and down 0.05 percent from last year. Cattle slaughter finished last week at an estimated 622,000 head, down 2.35 from the week prior and down 0.92 percent from last year. Over the next six weeks, slaughter is forecasted at an average of 617,500…