Direct cash cattle trade activity is picking up. Bids are at $167 to $175 live and $280 dressed. Asking prices are $172-plus live in the South and $282-plus dressed in the North. Look for packer inquiry to improve as the day progresses, but significant trade volume will likely hold out until sometime Thursday or Friday.
Boxed beef is mixed at midday on light to moderate demand for light offerings. Choice is $.64 higher at $300.11 and Select is $.17 lower at $284.18. The Choice/Select spread is $15.93.
At the Ozarks Regional Stockyards in Missouri, steer calves were uneven, from $3 lower to $3 higher.
