U.S. National Base Hog Slaughter Cost

DES MOINES - May 15/08 - SNS -- The daily base cost for hog slaughter operations in the United Ststes was calculated by the USDA.

NATIONAL DAILY BASE LEAN HOG CARCASS SLAUGHTER COST FOR Wed, May 14, 2008
This report includes: Volume, Weighted Average Carcass Weight, and Base Cost


                     Avg            Base Cost     (Packer Buying Programs)
             Head  Carcass  Backfat (Inches): 1.00-1.09  0.80-0.99 0.65-0.79
   Date     Count   Weight      Percent Lean:   49-50%     51-52%    53-54%

05/14/2008 159,168  199.11                      79.10      81.04     83.12
05/13/2008 158,325  199.28                      78.31      80.24     82.31
05/12/2008 158,700  199.23                      76.80      78.73     80.80
05/09/2008 176,901  199.92                      75.71      77.63     79.71
05/08/2008 170,096  200.10                      74.39      76.31     78.39
05/07/2008 158,532  199.67                      73.54      75.46     77.54

WEEKLY NATIONAL DAILY BASE LEAN HOG CARCASS SLAUGHTER COST
For Week Ended:

05/09/2008 809,293  199.49                      73.71      75.62     77.70
04/18/2008 899,895  200.82                      58.65      60.53     62.39
05/18/2007 802,290  201.66                      70.62      72.56     74.74

MONTHLY NATIONAL DAILY BASE LEAN HOG CARCASS SLAUGHTER COST
For: April 2008

         3,871,317  200.89                      59.02      60.89     62.75

The values in the base cost lean calculations are determined by individual
packer's lean value buying programs, which are based on the backfat
and 6 to 7 square inch loineye area both measured at the 10th rib.

Calculations include Producer Sold negotiated and swine or pork market
formula and Packer Sold negotiated and swine or pork market formula data
from the National Prior Day Slaughtered Swine Report (LM_HG201.txt).

Monthly total and weighted averages represent slaughtered hogs reported
for the month.

Source:     USDA Market News, Des Moines, IA

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