The US hide market began the shortened week with a quiet tone to trading. Last week, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) was discovered in a slaughterhouse in Brazil, initiating a stop to beef slaughter while the Ministry of Agriculture investigates. Slaughter stopped on September 1^st, which will result in smaller volume for last week and this week. All exports to China have been banned. Brazil’s hide demand and wet blue prices remain unchanged while the investigation is under way. The Jacobsen Hide Index on Friday closed at $43.91 compared to $45.50 Friday the week prior. Friday the week prior.

For the week ending August 28^th, 2021, cattle slaughter is forecast at 655,000 head, a slight decrease from 2020, a 1.5 percent drop from the previous week and a 0.23 percent increase from 2019. According to the USDA Actual Slaughter Under Federal Inspection for August 7^th, average live weights are currently at 1,353 pounds, two pounds below the…