Direct cash cattle trade activity remains quiet.  Bids are slow to surface.  Early asking prices are around $174-plus live in the South, but the North remains quiet.  It’s likely significant trade will be pushed into Thursday or even Friday. 

Boxed beef is higher at midday on solid demand for decent offerings.  Choice is $1.79 higher at $281.95 and Select was $4.11 higher at $266.94.  The Choice/Select spread is $15.01.

At the Ozarks Regional Stockyards in Missouri, steers and heifer calves under 700 pounds were $3 to $6 lower. 

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