At the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, live and feeder cattle were lower on technical selling and the recent slide in boxed beef. February lives closed $.72 lower at $171.12 and April lives closed $.45 lower at $174.30. March feeders closed $1.37 lower at $225.65 and April feeders closed $1.27 lower at $231.27.
Direct cash cattle trade was relatively quiet again for much of Thursday. Bids did surface at $275 dressed in the North. Asking prices were firm around $175-plus live in the South and $276-plus dressed in the North. Look for business to pick up over the balance of the week.