Cattle Slaughter Levels Forecast Lower Nearby, Higher in May

Cattle slaughter finished last week at a robust 676,000 head, up 9.26 percent from a year ago and 3.5 percent relative to the year prior. Slaughter is forecast to move higher, on average, over the next six weeks. This week, slaughter is projected out at 660,000 head, down 5 percent from last week. Over the next six weeks, slaughter is forecast at an average of 659,000 head, up an average of 3 percent from the prior six…