Direct cash cattle trade activity is quiet at midday.  Bids have been slow to surface.  Early asking prices are around $116 live in the South, while the North remains quiet.  It’s likely significant trade volume will be delayed until the latter half of the week. 

Boxed beef is higher at midday on good demand for light offerings.  Choice is $1.36 higher at $232.44 and Select is $2 higher at $225.13.  The Choice/Select spread is $7.31. 

At the Joplin Regional Stockyards in Missouri, compared to last week, feeder steers and heifers were steady with active bidding.  The USDA says supply was heavy with good demand.  Feeder supply included 54 percent steers and 45 percent of the offering was over 600 pounds.  Receipts were down on the week, but up on the year.   Medium and Large 1 feeder steers 600 to 649 pounds brought $141 to $160 and feeder steers 700 to 740 pounds brought $134 to $144.   Medium and Large 1 feeder heifers 501 to 548 pounds brought $136 to $152 and feeder heifers 550 to 599 pounds brought $132 to $150. 

Cash hogs are higher at midday with fairly light negotiated purchases. 

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