USDA Hog Price Drops to 86.86 Dollars Amid Weekly Slaughter
USDA national base hog price fell to 86.86 dollars on Thursday. Lean hog futures traded lower across most contract months. Market activity remained subdued compared to the prior year.
The USDA reported the national base hog price at 86.86 dollars on Thursday afternoon. This figure represents a decline of 39 cents from the previous day. The CME Lean Hog Index also decreased by 86 cents to reach 88.79 dollars.
Lean hog futures experienced modest losses across most available contracts. The nearby October contract rose by 7 cents to close at 83.15 dollars. December and February contracts finished the session lower.
Carcass Values Decline Significantly
USDA data showed the pork carcass cutout value dropped by 1.82 dollars. The final value stood at 91.81 dollars in the afternoon report. Primary cuts including butt, rib, and belly all recorded lower prices.
The belly cut saw the largest decrease among primals. It fell by 11.79 dollars during the reporting period. This drop contributed to the overall reduction in carcass value.
Slaughter Volumes Lag Prior Year
USDA estimated federally inspected hog slaughter at 493,000 head for Thursday. The cumulative total for the week reached 1.458 million head. This figure is well below the same period last year.
The lower weekly total is partly due to the Monday holiday. Reduced operating days limited the total number of animals processed. Market participants noted the divergence from historical averages.
Market Context and Sources
GN markets/commodities (en-US) provides data on these daily fluctuations. The information reflects standard market reporting from USDA and CME. Traders monitored these figures for signals on supply and demand.
The October contract closed at 83.15 dollars. The December contract settled at 74.35 dollars. The February contract ended at 76.82 dollars. These closing prices define the current forward curve.
