Direct cash cattle trade is off to a slow start.  Bids have yet to surface.  Asking prices are around $125 live in the South, but not yet established out of the North.  Look for more business to develop over the balance of the week. 

Boxed beef was mixed at midday on light to moderate demand for solid offerings.  Choice was $.32 lower at $288.86 and Select was $3.78 higher at $268.94.  The Choice/Select spread is $19.92. 

At the Joplin Regional Stockyards in Missouri, compared to last week, feeder steers traded steady to $2 higher.  Feeder heifers were steady to $4 higher.  The USDA says supply was moderate with good demand.  Feeder supply included 47% steers and 50% of the offering was over 600 pounds.

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