U.S. National Base Hog Slaughter Cost

DES MOINES - May 11/04 - 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 Mon, May 10, 2004
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%

05/10/2004 146,536  198.87                      75.46      77.47     79.59
05/07/2004 164,629  199.72                      74.37      76.38     78.58
05/06/2004 150,201  199.51                      73.12      75.10     77.37
05/05/2004 155,494  198.20                      72.56      74.56     76.77
05/04/2004 153,503  199.28                      71.83      73.81     76.04
05/03/2004 152,442  200.67                      71.06      73.03     75.17

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

05/07/2004 776,269  199.47                      72.61      74.60     76.81
04/16/2004 855,662  200.98                      61.32      63.25     65.38
05/16/2003 779,757  198.71                      57.73      59.66     61.84

MONTHLY NATIONAL DAILY BASE LEAN HOG CARCASS SLAUGHTER COST
For: April 2004

         3,743,258  200.83                      63.38      65.32     67.46

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 Livestock and Grain Market News, Des Moines, IA

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