Lean hog futures closed out the Thursday session with losses of 52 to 87 cents across the front months.  The national average base hog price was reported at 77.84 on Thursday afternoon, down 83 cents from the day prior. The CME Lean Hog Index was $86.27 on September 3 up 12 cents from the day prior.

USDA’s FOB plant pork cutout value was down 42 cents in the Thursday PM report at $94.87 per cwt. The ham and belly were the only reported lower, but down $5.39 and $1.35, respectively. USDA estimated the Thursday FI hog slaughter at 485,000 head, with the week to date total at 1.456 million head. That is well below the previous non-holiday week but 36,681 head larger than the same week last year.

Oct 24 Hogs  closed at $80.700, down $0.875,

Dec 24 Hogs  closed at $72.050, down $0.650

Feb 25 Hogs  closed at $75.250, down $0.525,