NW_LS410
Des Moines, IA     Wed, Aug 27, 2008     USDA Market News

USDA BEEF CARCASS PRICE EQUIVALENT INDEX VALUE

                             CHOICE              SELECT
Index                       600-900#            600-900#
 Values =>                  $148.89             $141.84
 Change =>                   -0.54               -0.49
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Current Index Reflects the Equivalent of 213,917 head of cattle.
SUPPLY (Live)  97,648 Hd
Equivalent:                   $148.80             $141.34
DEMAND (Box)   116,269 Hd*
Equivalent:                   $148.98             $142.33
Live-Box Spread:              ($0.18)             ($0.99)
----------------------------  Input Breakdown   -----------------------------
         National Daily Direct Cattle          :      Boxed Beef Cutouts
        (5 day accumulated wghtd avg)          : Ch 600-900#          $160.98
                  Weight       Price      Head : Se 600-900#          $154.33
  Live Steer:          1344    $98.47    27,481: Current Lds:           344.2
  Live Heifer:         1221    $98.62    20,064: Previous Lds:          339.6
  Drsd Steer:           851   $155.71    32,175
  Drsd Heifer:          782   $155.71    17,928
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      Grading % Breakdown                :     Drop Credit      :       11.84
 Ch 600-900# :                 66.78%    :     Steer Dressing % :      63.37%
 Ch 600-750# :                 20.11%    :     Heifer Dressing %:      63.42%
 Ch 750-900# :                 46.66%    :     Processing Cost  :       12.00
 Se 600-900# :                 33.22%    :     Slaughter Cost   :       50.50
 Se 600-750# :                  8.84%    :
 Se 750-900# :                 24.39%    :
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 Equivalent Values for Outlying Beef Carcass Types
 Basis Value = 148.89                       Carcass Weights
                             400-500# 500-600#  600-900# 900-1000#  1000#/up
 Qlty/Yield      (1)           -25.00     -9.37      0.00     -2.36    -19.58
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 Prime 1-3            12.31   $136.20   $151.83   $161.20   $158.84   $141.62
 Certified 1-3         4.06   $127.95   $143.58   $152.95   $150.59   $133.37
 Choice 1              2.75   $126.64   $142.27   $151.64   $149.28   $132.06
 Select 1             -4.21   $119.68   $135.31   $144.68   $142.32   $125.10
 Stndrd 1-3          -15.45   $108.44   $124.07   $133.44   $131.08   $113.86
 Prime 4              -2.18   $121.71   $137.34   $146.71   $144.35   $127.13
 Choice 4            -13.50   $110.39   $126.02   $135.39   $133.03   $115.81
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*Reflects total boxed beef load count from past 5 days
multiplied by 75, the average head per boxed beef load.
(1) differentials based upon current premiums and discounts.
Note: Index reflects simple average of live and box equivalents.

Source:          USDA Market News, Des Moines, IA
                 Phone: 515-284-4460   email: desm.lgmn@usda.gov
                 24 Hour recorded market information 515-284-4830
                 www.ams.usda.gov/LSMarketNews
1545C     KDC



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