HOG AND CATTLE SLAUGHTER GUESSTIMATES Chicago Mercantile Exchange floor traders and commission house representatives are guesstimating today's hog slaughter at about 295,000 to 302,000 head versus 293,000 week ago and 309,000 a year ago. Cattle slaughter is guesstimated at about 123,000 to 126,000 head versus 123,000 week ago and 121,000 a year ago.