Trading was quiet in the animal protein market on Monday August 19 with no changes reported. 

Fastmarkets’ research team forecasts cattle slaughter at 612,000 head for the week ending August 24, up by 1.7% week on week and down by 2.3% year on year.

Cattle slaughter finished last week at an estimated 602,000 head, down by 2.4% from the same week in 2023 and up by only 1.9% from the week prior.

The year-to-date total through Saturday August 17 is estimated at 19.674 million head, down by 4.3% from 2023, according to the USDA.

…