Lean hog futures are trading $0.30 to $1.17 higher in the front months. The deferred contracts are 2 to 25 cents in the red. Cutout futures are up 10 cents to $1.10 at midday. The CME Lean Hog Index was another 39 cents higher on 1/13 to 65.87. USDA’s National Average Base Hog price was down another $0.95 this morning to $52.75. The National Pork Carcass Cutout value was $2.24 higher to $82.79. most primal cuts were higher, save for a $9.83 pullback in bellies and a 3 cent drop in ribs. USDA’s weekly pork export sales were reported at a slow 23,782 MT. Pork shipments were 30,008 MT for the week ending 1/7. USDA’s estimate for WTD FI hog slaughter is 1.991 million head through Thursday. That is 20,000 head more than last week’s pace and matches the same week last year. 

--- provided by Brugler Marketing & Management