Live Cattle futures trim monthly losses as slaughter drops.

Livestock markets saw a mostly higher end to the week and month, driven heavily by the cattle complex. October Live Cattle futures posted a strong weekly gain of 4.75, which helped trim steep monthly losses down to 9.40. Meanwhile, September Feeder Cattle futures finished the month down over 5 percent despite daily gains. On the pork side, October lean hog futures fell 4.17 for the week, snapping a previous run of positive momentum. Wholesale boxed beef saw notable strength, with select cuts jumping 5.82, while week-to-date slaughter numbers came in at 407,000 head-a 36,000 drop compared to the same period last year.