Live Cattle and Lean Hog futures settled mixed.

February Live Cattle futures and January Feeder Cattle futures finished lower as the market approached the holiday break. In contrast, Lean Hog futures moved higher across the board, with the February contract gaining $0.62. Wholesale Box Beef reports showed mixed results as choice cuts fell and select cuts rose. Daily slaughter numbers saw an increase of 11,000 head from the previous week. While seasonal patterns are often supportive this time of year, decreasing volatility and trading ranges suggest a more tempered market environment heading into the new year.