Direct cash cattle trade activity is quiet again today.  Bids and asking prices have been slow to surface.  With the holiday-shortened week and heading into the end of the year – there may not be a lot of trade volume.  Business is expected to develop earlier than normal because of the short week, but Thursday’s Cattle on Feed report could have folks playing a little bit of a waiting game. 

Boxed beef was mixed at midday on light to moderate demand for light offerings.  Choice is $.33 higher at $262.71 and Select is $.88 lower at $249.79.  The Choice/Select spread is $12.92. 

At the Callaway Livestock Center in Missouri, the light offering of steer and heifer calves from 400 to 650 pounds held up well compared to the previous week’s heavy receipts and very active market. 

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