Lean hog futures are mixed as of midday, with prices fluctuating within 20 cents of unchanged levels. The USDA reported a national base hog price at $90.46 on Friday morning, a decrease of 51 cents from the previous day. The CME Lean Hog Index was slightly higher at $89.12, up 41 cents as of February 25.
The USDA’s pork carcass cutout value increased by 99 cents to $98.37 per cwt. The only decline noted was in the butt primal. Federally inspected hog slaughter estimates for Thursday reached 493,000 head, bringing the week-to-date total to 1.951 million head. This figure marks a rise of 39,000 head from the prior week and an increase of 5,028 head compared to the same week last year.
