HOG AND CATTLE SLAUGHTER GUESSTIMATES Chicago Mercantile Exchange floor traders and commission house representatives are guesstimating today's hog slaughter at about 285,000 to 300,000 head versus 292,000 week ago and 309,000 a year ago. Cattle slaughter is guesstimated at about 125,000 to 131,000 head versus 129,000 week ago and 119,000 a year ago.