HOG AND CATTLE SLAUGHTER GUESSTIMATES Chicago Mercantile Exchange floor traders and commission house representatives are guesstimating today's hog slaughter at about 287,000 to 295,000 head versus 292,000 week ago and 322,000 a year ago. Cattle slaughter is guesstimated at about 124,000 to 128,000 head versus 129,000 week ago and 134,000 a year ago.