Direct cash cattle trade is off to a quiet start for the week. There hasn’t been a token bid reported yet.  Asking prices are around $146-plus in the South, but not established in the North.  Significant trade volume should pick up throughout the week.

Boxed beef mixed is with light to moderate box movement.  Choice is $2.04 higher at $246.67 and Select is $.71 lower at $213.11.  The Choice/Select spread is $33.56.

At the Joplin Regional Stockyards in Missouri, compared to last week, feeder steers traded $3 lower.  Feeder heifers under 425 pounds traded $8 to $11 lower with heavier weights trading $3 to $5 lower.  The USDA says supply and demand was moderate.  Drought has intensified throughout the region in recent weeks.  That’s limited fall growth for pastures and grasslands.  Receipts were down on the week, but up on the year.  Feeder supply included 52 percent steers with 57 percent of the offering over 600 pounds.  Medium and Large 1 feeder steers 621 to 639 pounds brought $179 to $194, and steers 852 to 860 pounds brought $170 to $172.  Medium and Large 1 feeder heifers 557 to 593 pounds brought $158 to $175 and heifers 723 to 737 pounds brought $157 to $1667.50.

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