Lean hog futures are trading with contracts 97 cents to $1.77 lower at midday. USDA’s national base hog price was at $72.12 in the Wednesday AM report, down $3.97 from the day prior. The CME Lean Hog Index was down another 41 cents on October 5 at $79.22.
USDA’s pork carcass cutout value was down $1.02 in the Wednesday morning report, at $82.82. The ham and belly primals were reported lower. Federally inspected hog slaughter for Tuesday was estimated at 494,000 head, with the week to date total at 987,000 head. That was 10,000 head above last week and 17,511 head larger than the same week last year.
