A quiet end to the week for direct cash cattle trade.  While a little cleanup business could trickle in this afternoon, it’s likely the bulk of the week’s business has wrapped up.  Southern live deals were marked at $118 to $120, generally steady with last week’s trade.  Northern dressed deals had a full range of $189 to $196, mostly $190 to $191, also generally steady with last week’s business. 

Boxed beef is lower to sharply lower at midday on light demand for very light offerings.  Choice is $.48 lower at $337.77 and Select is $4.89 lower at $305.51.  The Choice/Select spread is $32.26. 

At the Ogallala Livestock Auction in Nebraska there was a higher undertone noted on all sales.  Buyers were active from start to finish on weaned, bawling fall calves, and yearling feeder cattle.  There were a lot of yearlings coming in off rye and early summer grass pastures.  The offering was mostly medium fleshed with a few light fleshed cattle in the run.  Feeder supply included 54% steers and 68% of the offering was over 600 pounds.  Medium and Large 1 feeder steers 651 to 696 pounds brought $156.50 to $166 and feeder steers 704 to 739 pounds brought $150.50 to $162.

…