HOG AND CATTLE SLAUGHTER GUESSTIMATES Chicago Mercantile Exchange floor traders and commission house representatives are guesstimating today's hog slaughter at about 280,000 to 300,000 head versus 294,000 week ago and 303,000 a year ago. Cattle slaughter is guesstimated at about 120,000 to 126,000 head versus 120,000 week ago and 124,000 a year ago.