It’s a quiet start to Tuesday for direct cash cattle business.  Showlists this week are lower and somewhat lower in Nebraska and Colorado, lower in Kansas, and sharply lower in Texas.  Bids and asking prices have yet to be established.  Significant trade volume will likely be delayed until midweek or later.

Boxed beef is higher at midday on solid demand for moderate offerings.  Choice is $1.07 higher at $309.63 and Select is $.93 higher at $285.05.  The Choice/Select spread is $23.58. 

At the Joplin Regional Stockyards in Missouri, feeder steers under 600 pounds were steady to $3 lower and heavier weights were $4 to $8 lower. 

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