Another quiet day for direct cash cattle trade.  Bids have been slow to surface. There has been talk that some early asking prices are being floated at $107 live.  Packer inquiry is expected to improve as the day progresses, but the bulk of this week’s business could be delayed until midweek or later. 

Boxed beef is mixed at midday on moderate demand for light offerings.  Choice is $1.18 higher at $229.13 and Select is $.97 lower at $214.35.  The Choice/Select spread is $14.78. 

At the Joplin Regional Stockyards in Missouri, compared to last week steer calves and yearlings were mostly steady.  Yearlings over 800 pounds were weak to $2 lower and heifer calves were steady to $3 higher.  The USDA says demand was moderate to good and supply was moderate.  Receipts are up on the year.  Feeder supply included 53 percent steers and 56 percent of the offering was over 600 pounds.  Medium and Large 1 feeder steers 602 to 648 pounds brought $149 to $157 and feeder steers 700 to 747 pounds brought $141 to $150.  Medium and Large 1 feeder heifers 504 to 548 pounds brought $142 to $150 and feeder heifers 653 to 695 pounds brought $134 to $143.50. 

Cash hogs opened mixed with moderate negotiated numbers. 

…