Direct cash cattle trade activity is picking up.  There are a few more bids that have surfaced so far at $107 live in the South and $168 to $169 dressed in the North.  Asking prices are around $110 live in the South and $173 to $175 dressed in the North.  Packer inquiry is expected to improve as the day progresses. 

Boxed beef is steady to lower at midday on light demand for moderate offerings.  Choice is $.75 lower at $216.13 and Select is unchanged at $205.58.  The Choice/Select spread is $205.58. 

At the Hub City Livestock Auction in South Dakota, compared to last week, the best test on steers 850 to 950 pounds were mostly steady, steers 951 to 1050 pounds were $1 to $3 lower.  The best test on heifers 800 to 850 pounds and 951 to 1000 pounds were steady to $2 lower, heifers 901 to 950 pounds were mostly steady.  The USDA says demand was good to very good for another large yearling offering.  There were several long strings of both steers and heifers as well as many loads and packages made up the offering.  Quality was similar to last week with many attractive cattle on offer.  Flesh was mostly light to moderate with the entire yearling offering coming off grass.  Receipts were down on the week and the year.  Feeder supply included 47 percent steers and 97 percent of the offering was over 600 pounds.  Medium and Large 1 feeder steers 914 to 947 pounds brought $135 to $145 and feeder steers 952 to 997 pounds brought $135.25 to $139.75.  Medium and Large 1 feeder heifers 900 to 949 pounds brought $130.50 to $136.60 and feeder heifers 954 to 994 pounds brought $127 to $134. 

Cash hogs opened steady to firm with fairly light negotiated purchases. 

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