Another quiet start to the day for direct cash cattle business.  Bids have finally surfaced at $290 dressed in Nebraska, but the rest of cattle country is quiet.  Asking prices have yet to be established.  The high temperatures probably aren’t helping business this week.  Look for significant trade volume to be delayed until sometime Thursday or Friday. 

Boxed beef is higher at midday on good demand for moderate offerings.  Choice is $.43 higher at $317.48 and Select is $2.55 higher at $292.06.  The Choice/Select spread is $25.42. 

At the Interstate Regional Stockyards in Missouri, steers and heifers under 650 pounds were $3 to $6 lower. 

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