At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live and feeder cattle ended the day higher, supported by cash optimism, higher boxed beef at midday, and lower corn prices.  December live cattle closed $1.70 higher at $131.65 and February live cattle closed $1.42 higher at $136.65.  November feeder cattle closed $1.60 higher at $159.17 and January feeder cattle closed $2.20 higher at $159.22. 

Direct cash cattle trade was in a standoff most of Wednesday as buyers and sellers refused to budge toward common ground. 

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