Direct cash cattle trade remains quiet.  Bids have surfaced at $188 live and $291 to $294 dressed in the North.  Asking prices are around $183-plus live in the South and $295 dressed in the North.  While packer inquiry should improve as the day progresses, significant trade volume could hold out until late in the day Friday – especially with the USDA reports on tap.

Boxed beef is lower at midday – on light demand for moderate offerings.  Choice was $1.64 lower at $301.95 and Select is $1.23 lower at $274.73.  The Choice/Select spread is $27.22. 

At the OKC West Livestock Auction in Oklahoma, feeder steers and heifers were mostly steady to $2 higher. 

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