Direct cash cattle trade activity is picking up.  Bids have surfaced in the North at $175 live and $280 dressed.  Asking prices are at $174 to $177 live in the South and $286-plus dressed in the North.  While some business could take place today, significant trade volume could very likely hold out until sometime Thursday or Friday. 

Boxed beef is sharply higher at midday on solid demand for light offerings.  Choice is $3.33 higher at $298.43 and Select is $1.04 higher at $283.08.  The Choice/Select spread is $15.35. 

At the Ozarks Regional Stockyards in Missouri, steer and heifer calves were $6 to $12 higher with spots of $16 higher. 

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