Cattle slaughter finished last week at 627,000 head, down 5 percent from a year ago and down 3 percent relative to the year prior. Slaughter is forecast to move higher over the next six weeks. This week, slaughter is projected out at 646,000 head, down 5.6 percent from last year and up 3 percent from last week. Over the next six weeks, slaughter is forecast at an average of 645,200 head, up 2.8 percent from the prior six weeks. While numbers are expected to be down, production is still expected be…