The direct cash cattle trade is slow to start, but packer inquiry should start to improve as the day goes on. Asking prices are around $122 plus in the South, and $200 plus in the North.

Boxed beef is gaining. As of Wednesday morning, choice boxes were up $2.72 at $272.45, while selects were up another $1.57 at $255.51.

At the Philip, South Dakota, Livestock Auction Tuesday, there were about 3,700 head of feeder cattle.

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