NW_LS410
Des Moines, IA     Fri, Jul 17, 2026     USDA Market News

USDA BEEF CARCASS PRICE EQUIVALENT INDEX VALUE

                             CHOICE              SELECT
Index                       600-900#            600-900#
 Values =>                    $357.21             $340.54
 Change =>                      -3.91               -3.33
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Current Index Reflects the Equivalent of 93,332 head of cattle.
SUPPLY (Live)  49,473 Hd
Equivalent:                   $359.61             $337.79
DEMAND (Box)   43,859 Hd*
Equivalent:                   $354.81             $343.29
Live-Box Spread:               $4.80              ($5.50)
----------------------------  Input Breakdown   -----------------------------
         National Daily Direct Cattle          :      Boxed Beef Cutouts
        (5 day accumulated wghtd avg)          : Ch 600-900#          $366.81
                  Weight   Price     Head      : Se 600-900#          $355.29
  Live Steer:          1530   $240.56    22,216: Current Lds:           111.2
  Live Heifer:         1389   $242.24     8,316: Previous Lds:          138.6
  Drsd Steer:          1001   $378.19    15,262
  Drsd Heifer:          888   $379.62     3,679
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      Grading % Breakdown            :         Drop Credit      :       14.08
 Ch 600-900# :                 86.46%:         Steer Dressing % :      63.71%
 Ch 600-750# :                 34.95%:         Heifer Dressing %:      63.68%
 Ch 750-900# :                 51.51%:         Processing Cost  :       12.00
 Se 600-900# :                 13.54%:         Slaughter Cost   :       50.50
 Se 600-750# :                  3.53%:
 Se 750-900# :                 10.00%:
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 Equivalent Values for Outlying Beef Carcass Types
 Basis Value = 357.21                       Carcass Weights
                             400-500#500-600#  600-900#  900-1000#  1000#/up
 Qlty/Yield      (1)           -29.29    -17.11               -2.68    -15.45
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 Prime 1-3            12.26   $340.18   $352.36   $369.47   $366.79   $354.02
 Certified 1-3         5.68   $333.60   $345.78   $362.89   $360.21   $347.44
 Choice 1              3.35   $331.27   $343.45   $360.56   $357.88   $345.11
 Select 1            -18.01   $309.91   $322.09   $339.20   $336.52   $323.75
 Stndrd 1-3          -35.99   $291.93   $304.11   $321.22   $318.54   $305.77
 Prime 4              -1.86   $326.06   $338.24   $355.35   $352.67   $339.90
 Choice 4            -12.82   $315.10   $327.28   $344.39   $341.71   $328.94
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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 Service, Des Moines, IA
        Bryant Smith  515-284-4460  Desm.LPGMN@ams.usda.gov
        24 Hour recorded market information 515-284-4830
        www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/NW_LS410.txt
        www.ams.usda.gov/LPSMarketNewsPage