Direct cash cattle trade activity is slow to pick up this morning.  Bids have yet to surface.  Asking prices are around $176-plus live in the South, but have not been established in the North.  It’s likely significant trade volume will develop around midweek or later. 

Boxed beef was higher at midday on solid demand for light offerings.  Choice is $1.95 higher at $309.58 and Select is $1.12 higher at $288.74.  The Choice/Select spread is $20.84. 

At the Ozarks Regional Stockyards in Missouri, compared to last week steer and heifer calves were steady to $5 higher. 

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