At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live and feeder cattle were lower on technical selling and the recent slide in boxed beef.  February lives closed $.72 lower at $171.12 and April lives closed $.45 lower at $174.30.  March feeders closed $1.37 lower at $225.65 and April feeders closed $1.27 lower at $231.27.

Direct cash cattle trade was relatively quiet again for much of Thursday.  Bids did surface at $275 dressed in the North.  Asking prices were firm around $175-plus live in the South and $276-plus dressed in the North.  Look for business to pick up over the balance of the week.

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