Branded cow hides dropped by $0.25 per piece on Monday December 30, according to a hide seller. Sellers managed to move a decent volume but had to accept lower prices to secure cash flow, with deliveries scheduled for after the Lunar New Year holiday.

Market sentiment remained cautious, with concerns about the near-term economy lingering due to the massive debt levels in the US, sources said. While tighter cow hide supply is possible in the short term, historical patterns suggest that slaughterhouses might tap into smaller ranchers to alleviate any projected shortages.

In addition, a seller said he suspects interest rates might stall rather than continue dropping, since economic uncertainty could lead to reduced consumer spending, potentially impacting demand across sectors.

The market remained on edge, with participants closely monitoring these evolving dynamics.

Cattle slaughter forecast

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