Another sluggish start for direct cash cattle trade.  Bids have been reported at $175 dressed.  Asking prices are around $114 to $115 live in the South and $180 dressed in the North.  Packer inquiry is expected to improve as the day progresses, but it’s likely significant trade volume may hold out until Friday. 

Boxed beef is mixed at midday on light to moderate demand for moderate offerings.  Choice is $.27 higher at $205.54 and Select is $.74 lower at $195.34.  The Choice/Select spread is $10.20. 

At the Hub City Livestock Auction in South Dakota, there was good to very good demand for several long strings and several loads of yearlings offered.  Flesh condition was mostly moderate plus.  There was also good to very good demand for a large offering of calves, flesh varied, but was mostly moderate plus.  Quality was mostly attractive and included many large consignments.  There were quite a few opportunities for buyers to buy several loads of same owner, home raised to fill pens.  The market was active.  Receipts were up on the year.  Feeder supply included 69 percent steers and 87 percent of the offering was over 600 pounds.  Medium and Large 1 feeder steers 751 to 799 pounds brought $129.75 to $142.75 and feeder steers 926 to 949 pounds brought $124.50 to $132.25.  Medium and Large 1 feeder heifers 610 to 635 pounds brought $138.50 to $150.25 and feeder heifers 805 to 840 pounds brought $116.75 to $121.50. 

Cash hogs are firm and sharply higher at midday with solid negotiated numbers. 

…