Lean Hog Futures Little Higher

October lean hogs are trading at 63.25, up 0.40 cents /lb. December lean hogs are trading at 58.02, up 0.50 cents/lb. February lean hogs are trading at 61.52, up 0.20 cents/lb. Lean hog futures are trading higher just after the open. Market chatter about cash prices and weather for consumer demand is making the rounds. Trading is expected to be very choppy ahead of the upcoming long U.S. holiday weekend. Wednesday's USDA hog slaughter was 435,000 head, the total for the week is now 1.294 million head, versus 1.305 million heads last week and 1.289 million head a year ago. The average weights as of August 27th were 276.0 pounds, up from 274.7 pound the week before and and down from 277 pounds a year ago.