At the close for the last trade day of the week, April and July hogs were UNCH and August contracts were down by 37 cents. The other front months ended 2 to 95 cents in the black. USDA’s National Average Base Hog price was up another 80 cents to $100.21. The CME Lean Hog Index was up another 13 cents to $100.47 on 4/6.

USDA reduced their forecast for 2021 pork production by 405m lbs to 28.275 billion. Q1 was reduced by 60, Q2 by 90, Q3 by another 60 million and Q4 production was 195m lbs lighter to 7.325 billion lbs.

Pork cutout futures close 17 to 80 cents in the black on Friday. USDA’s National Pork Carcass Cutout Value was $2.17 higher in the PM report on Friday at $113.17. In the PM report, hams were down by $5+ but that was offset by an $8.53 gain for loins and a $5.00 gain in bellies. USDA estimated the federally inspected hog slaughter for the week through Saturday at 2.487m head. That is 24,000 head above last week and 94,000 head above the same week last year – but both recorded low Saturday slaughters ahead of Easter.

Apr 21 Hogs  closed at $103.475, unch,,

Jun 21 Hogs  closed at $108.950, up $0.250

Apr 21 Pork Cutout  closed at $112.350, up $0.175,