Direct cash cattle trade activity remains relatively quiet.  Bids still haven’t surfaced.  Asking prices are around $188-plus live in the South, but still not established in the North.  Packer inquiry could improve as the day progresses, but it’s more than likely significant trade volumes are going to hold out until sometime Thursday or Friday.

Boxed beef is lower at midday on light demand for moderate offerings.  Choice is $.28 lower at $312.94 and Select is $1.68 lower at $301.50.  The Choice/Select spread is $11.44. 

At the Ozarks Regional Stockyards in Missouri, feeder steers and heifers were steady. 

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