Direct cash cattle trade activity is relatively quiet, very typical for this early in the week.  The lone bid that has surfaced is in Kansas at $178, the rest of cattle country is quiet.  Asking prices are slow to surface.  Look for significant trade volume to pickup in the latter half of the week. 

Boxed beef is lower at midday on light demand for light offerings.  Choice is $1.31 lower at $338.83 and Select is $1.83 lower at $308.93.  The Choice/Select spread is $29.90.

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