**Lean hog futures fell on Wednesday**, with contracts dropping between 7 to 70 cents, while December contracts increased by 57 cents ahead of their expiration on Friday. The national average base hog negotiated price decreased by 72 cents to **$81.39** per hundredweight, and the CME Lean Hog Index was reported at **$83.33**, down 13 cents from the previous day.
The USDA reported a decline in the FOB plant pork cutout value to **$92.87** per cwt, a decrease of 27 cents. Additionally, the estimated hog slaughter for Wednesday was **487,000 head**, totaling **1.464 million head** for the week, which is 1,000 head lower than last week but an increase of 35,040 head compared to the same week last year. The December 24 hogs closed at **$83.500**, up **$0.575**, while February and April contracts closed at **$84.375** (down **$0.200**) and **$88.250** (down **$0.650**), respectively.
