Direct cash cattle trade has been slow to develop this week. Bids are few and far between and are at $180 live in Texas and $290 to $291 dressed in Nebraska. Asking prices are around $184 to $185 live in the South, but still note established in the North. More business is expected to pick up as the day progresses, but significant trade volume could hold out until sometime on Friday.
Boxed beef is lower at midday – on light demand for moderate offerings. Choice is $.71 lower at $296.10 and Select is $1.50 lower at $289.38. The Choice/Select spread is $6.72.
At the Hub City Livestock Auction in South Dakota, the best test on steers were at 650 to 699 pounds and 800 to 899 pounds were mostly steady, steers 900 to 949 pounds were steady to $3 lower, steers 950 to 999 pounds were steady to $2 higher.
