At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live and feeder cattle were higher, waiting for widespread direct business to develop and the sharply higher trend in boxed beef. June live cattle closed $.77 higher at $179.02, and August live cattle closed $.85 higher at $177.37. August feeder cattle closed $1.47 higher at $257.35, and September feeders closed $1.45 higher at $258.40.
Direct cash cattle trade was relatively quiet again on Thursday. Asking prices were at $186 to $187-plus live in the South, and $300 dressed in the North.
