It’s another quiet start for direct cash cattle business.  Bids have yet to surface.  Asking prices have been reported in the South at $186, but have yet to be established in the North.   It’s likely significant trade volume is going to be delayed until sometime Thursday or Friday – especially with Cattle on Feed numbers coming out Friday afternoon.   

Boxed beef is mixed at midday on light to moderate demand for solid offerings.  Choice is $1.50 lower at $303.82 and Select is $.15 higher at $283.56.  The Choice/Select spread is $20.26.  

At the Callaway Livestock Center in Missouri, steer calves 400 to 600 pounds were steady to firm, steers 600 to 700 pounds were firm with spots of $5 higher.  Steers over 750 pounds sold with a higher undertone.  The was a much lighter offering of heifer calves, those were steady.  The USDA says demand was good on all classes of feeders with a moderate supply.  There were several stick-out sales of yearling steers with a pot load of thin black steers, 662 pounds bringing $296.25.  All three pot loads of top-quality yearling steers, 906 to 943 pounds sold with good demand, with a pot load of steers, 906 pounds, bringing $251.10.  Receipts were down on the week and up on the year.  Feeder supply was 69% steers and 48% of the offering was over 600 pounds.  Medium and Large 1 feeder steers 550 to 575 pounds brought $299 to $312 and feeder steers 906 to 943 pounds brought $240.50 to $251.10.  Medium and Large 1 feeder heifers 450 to 498 pounds brought $279 to $289 and feeder heifers 564 to 582 pounds brought $272 to $285.50.   

Cash hogs are lower at midday with solid negotiated purchases. 

…