Is the beef consumer going to be buying choice at higher prices or buy more hamburger? 

I think the spread could be there are just a lot of culled cattle going to hamburger markets this time of year rather than feed them through the winter. Folks are culling at recent prices.

I am no beef marketing expert but I did cull one open cow at 73 after preg check last week. She was a good beef cow maybe thats what swung the market!  ;) 

I think many folks are doing the same thing and the widening spread is mostly temporary. jmho.

Jim at Dawn