Trading was quiet in the US animal protein market on Monday September 16, with no price changes reported.

Fastmarkets’ research team forecasts cattle slaughter at 615,000 head for the week ending September 21, 0.8% lower than the week before and down by 1.9% year on year.

Cattle slaughter finished last week at an estimated 620,000 head, down by 1.7% from the corresponding week in 2023 but higher by 14.4% from the week before due to the long Labor Day weekend in the US.

Since July, fed cattle carcass weights have remained well above those of recent years, with lower corn prices encouraging cattle feeders to keep animals on feed longer, producing heavier carcasses.

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