Direct cash cattle business is underway with light activity at $157 live in Kansas and Texas, steady with Thursday’s trade. That mostly light trade Thursday was at $157 live, $1 higher than the previous week, and mainly $254 to $255 dressed, up $5 to $6. Asking prices are $158 on the live basis and $256 dressed, with bids of $157 live and $252 dressed. The USDA says 2022 beef exports for the week ending December 22nd were 2,300 tons, most of that to Japan, while 2023 sales were 7,200 tons, mostly to Japan, China, and Taiwan.

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