Pork processors are expected to pay generally steady, or flat, prices for hogs today amid good buying interest for supplies to complete this week's slaughter schedules. Early projections for Saturday's slaughter are around 230K-235K head, near last weekend's figure, which puts the week's total on pace to be close to the 2.396M processed last week. Packers are making money and want to maintain their large slaughter rates, say livestock dealers. Sow prices are heating up from a combination of fewer being sold and improved demand for sausage products during the upcoming holidays. Terminals called mostly flat. (curt.thacker@dowjones.com)

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(END) Dow Jones Newswires

October 16, 2012 08:19 ET (12:19 GMT)