LIVESTOCK-Cattle futures fall as traders adjust positions

CHICAGO, Jan 29 (Reuters) - CME live and feeder cattle futures ended lower on Friday as traders adjusted their positions at the end of the month, and lean hogs weakened on technical buying, analysts said.

Feeder cattle futures have received additional pressure, said Karl Setzer, co-founder of Consus Ag Consulting, as livestock feeders shy away from buying replacement cattle to put on feed lots because of high prices.

Meanwhile, extreme cold temperatures slowed processing operations this week, created tough conditions for animals raised outdoors, and stalled cash markets.

After the close of the session, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a semi-annual report the U.S. cattle herd had dwindled to its smallest size since 1951, signaling beef prices will stay high for consumers after setting records last year.

The nation had 86.2 million cattle and calves as of January 1, the USDA said in a biannual report, after a persistent drought drove ranchers to slash their herds. That was down 0.4% from a year earlier, when the herd also hit its lowest level since 1951.

CME April live cattle LCJ26 finished 0.475 cent lower at 237.275 cents per pound, while March feeder cattle FCH26 finished down 4.850 cents at 360.275 cents per pound.

CME April lean hogs LHJ26 settled down 0.30 cent at 95.45 cents per pound.

Meatpackers slaughtered an estimated 93,000 cattle, up from 84,000 cattle a week earlier, according to the USDA. They slaughtered 486,000 hogs, up from 427,000 a week ago.

The USDA priced choice boxed beef at $365.56 per hundredweight (cwt), down $2.10 from Thursday, and select boxed beef at $361.94 per cwt, up $1.22 from Thursday.

The USDA priced pork carcasses on Friday afternoon at $94.22 per cwt, up $0.79 from Thursday. It priced pork bellies at $126.87 per cwt, up $0.03 from the previous day.