Direct cash cattle trade is off to a slow start following the light to moderate business.  Asking prices for cattle left on showlists were around $126 plus live in the South and $198 plus dressed in the North.  Southern live deals have been marked at mostly $124, while Northern dressed trade was at mostly $196.  Both are fully steady with the prior week’s weighted averages. 

Boxed beef was higher at midday on good demand for moderate offerings.  Choice is $.44 higher at $280.47 and Select is $1.01 higher at $263.81.  The Choice/Select spread is $16.66. 

At the Hub City Livestock Auction in South Dakota, compared to last week the best test was on yearling steers 850 to 900 pounds and they were $2 to $4 higher, steers 950 to 1000 pounds were steady to $1 lower. 

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