Cash cattle trade is off to a sluggish start on Halloween day. Bids remain very elusive, but a few early asking prices of $187 are being floated in parts of the South. Significant trade volume will probably be delayed until Wednesday or later.

Boxed beef is steady to lower at midday. Choice is down $2.83 at $306.45 and Select is $.84 lower at $280.05. The Choice/Select spread is $26.40.

At the Tri-State Livestock Auction in Nebraska, steers were $12 to $30 higher under 500 pounds, steers 500-600 pounds were $9 to $10 lower, and weights over 600 pounds were $3 higher.

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