Direct cash cattle trade activity has been quiet ahead of today’s Cattle on Feed report. Asking prices for cattle left on showlists are around $126+ live and $198 dressed in the North. Some cleanup business could come in after the release of today’s report. Deals this week have been at $124 live in the South with Northern dressed trade marked at mostly $196, fully steady with the previous week’s weighted averages.
Boxed beef was higher at midday on good demand for light offerings. Choice is $.98 higher at $281.64 and Select is $.67 higher at $263.39. The Choice/Select spread is $18.25.
At the Mitchell Livestock Auction in South Dakota, compared to last week, feeder steers 950 to 1000 pounds were $1 lower, and steers 1050 to 1100 pounds were $3 higher.
