Direct cash cattle trade activity is starting to pick up.  Bids have surfaced in Kansas at $185 live.  Asking prices are around $187 to $188 live in the South, but still not established in the North.  While more activity could start to pick up, significant trade volume will likely be delayed until sometime Thursday or Friday.

Boxed beef is lower at midday on light demand for moderate offerings.  Choice is $.45 lower at $317.76 and Select is $2.08 lower at $298.54.  The Choice/Select spread is $19.22. 

At the Ozarks Regional Stockyards in Missouri, five and six weight steer and heifer calves were $3 to $9 higher. 

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