The weekly average Choice cutout, which includes all types of sales including the daily Choice cutout, was $212.47. This was $2.55 lower and almost exactly the same as the daily close on Friday.  The cutout started the new year out higher than last year, but is now dropping and it is approaching very close to last year's price. There were 6,691 total loads sold for the week which was 1,504  loads higher than the previous week with that big jump in volume as the prices declined some.  

All of the major primal cuts were lower putting downward pressure on the cutout. The weekly average Choice rib primal was $6 lower and the weekly average Choice loin primal was $2 lower. The weekly average Choice Chuck and round primals were $2-4 lower, shuddering the price increase that has been occurring weekly.