Market Activity & Analysis

The Jacobsen Hide Index on Friday closed at $14.63 compared to $14.10 Friday the week prior. Big packer steer quotes included Heavy Native Steers from $26, Butt Branded Steers from $24 to $25, Branded Steers at $14, and Colorado Branded Steers at $14 and Heavy Texas Steers at $15 FOB plant. 

The Week’s Slaughter Forecast

The Jacobsen slaughter forecast for this week is 645,000 head, and if realized, will be 1,700 head less than the same week last year when it was 646,700.

Cattle slaughter finished last week 638,000 head, up 0.8 percent from a year ago. Over the next six weeks, slaughter is forecast at an average of 648,300 head, up an average of 0.7 percent from the prior six weeks and up 1.9 percent compared to last year. 

Figure 1.