NW_LS410
Des Moines, IA     Fri, Nov 20, 2009     USDA Market News

USDA BEEF CARCASS PRICE EQUIVALENT INDEX VALUE

                             CHOICE              SELECT
Index                       600-900#            600-900#
 Values =>                  $125.54             $118.92
 Change =>                   -0.67               -0.55
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Current Index Reflects the Equivalent of 213,444 head of cattle.
SUPPLY (Live)  107,413 Hd
Equivalent:                   $123.91             $117.97
DEMAND (Box)   106,031 Hd*
Equivalent:                   $127.18             $119.87
Live-Box Spread:              ($3.27)             ($1.90)
----------------------------  Input Breakdown   -----------------------------
         National Daily Direct Cattle          :      Boxed Beef Cutouts
        (5 day accumulated wghtd avg)          : Ch 600-900#          $139.18
                  Weight       Price      Head : Se 600-900#          $131.87
  Live Steer:          1347    $82.72    32,291: Current Lds:           223.8
  Live Heifer:         1215    $82.85    28,628: Previous Lds:          303.2
  Drsd Steer:           889   $130.05    29,643
  Drsd Heifer:          808   $130.08    16,851
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      Grading % Breakdown                :     Drop Credit      :        9.49
 Ch 600-900# :                 72.11%    :     Steer Dressing % :      63.56%
 Ch 600-750# :                 24.19%    :     Heifer Dressing %:      63.55%
 Ch 750-900# :                 47.92%    :     Processing Cost  :       12.00
 Se 600-900# :                 27.89%    :     Slaughter Cost   :       50.50
 Se 600-750# :                  7.41%    :
 Se 750-900# :                 20.48%    :
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 Equivalent Values for Outlying Beef Carcass Types
 Basis Value = 125.54                       Carcass Weights
                             400-500# 500-600#  600-900# 900-1000#  1000#/up
 Qlty/Yield      (1)           -25.45     -9.79      0.00     -3.21    -19.09
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 Prime 1-3            10.06   $110.15   $125.81   $135.60   $132.39   $116.51
 Certified 1-3         3.68   $103.77   $119.43   $129.22   $126.01   $110.13
 Choice 1              3.17   $103.26   $118.92   $128.71   $125.50   $109.62
 Select 1             -2.27    $97.82   $113.48   $123.27   $120.06   $104.18
 Stndrd 1-3          -16.12    $83.97    $99.63   $109.42   $106.21    $90.33
 Prime 4              -2.52    $97.57   $113.23   $123.02   $119.81   $103.93
 Choice 4            -11.40    $88.69   $104.35   $114.14   $110.93    $95.05
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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     BCS



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