Market Activity & Analysis

The Jacobsen Hide Index on Friday closed at $14.31 compared to $14.57 Friday the week prior. Big packer steer quotes included HNS from $23.50, BBS from $19.50 to $20.50, BS at $13, and CBS at $13 and HTS at $16 FOB plant.

The Week’s Slaughter Forecast

The Jacobsen slaughter forecast for this week is 650,000 head, and if realized, will be 19,100 head less the same week last year when it was 669,100.

Cattle slaughter finished last week 636,000 head, down 3 percent from a year ago and up 2 percent relative to the week prior. Slaughter is forecast to rebound this month after the lower numbers in April and May. Over the next six weeks, slaughter is forecast at an average of 636,000 head, up an average of 23 percent from the prior six weeks and down 2 percent compared to last year.