NW_LS410 Des Moines, IA Fri, Feb 13, 2026 USDA Market News USDA BEEF CARCASS PRICE EQUIVALENT INDEX VALUE CHOICE SELECT Index 600-900# 600-900# Values => $361.30 $356.10 Change => 1.63 2.01 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Current Index Reflects the Equivalent of 54,490 head of cattle. SUPPLY (Live) 21,431 Hd Equivalent: $370.13 $360.78 DEMAND (Box) 33,059 Hd* Equivalent: $352.47 $351.42 Live-Box Spread: $17.66 $9.36 ---------------------------- Input Breakdown ----------------------------- National Daily Direct Cattle : Boxed Beef Cutouts (5 day accumulated wghtd avg) : Ch 600-900# $364.47 Weight Price Head : Se 600-900# $363.42 Live Steer: 1561 $242.49 14,946: Current Lds: 59.6 Live Heifer: 1380 $243.24 4,677: Previous Lds: 101.3 Drsd Steer: 987 $378.01 1,326 Drsd Heifer: 902 $379.33 482 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Grading % Breakdown : Drop Credit : 11.90 Ch 600-900# : 86.82%: Steer Dressing % : 63.00% Ch 600-750# : 35.09%: Heifer Dressing %: 63.00% Ch 750-900# : 51.72%: Processing Cost : 12.00 Se 600-900# : 13.18%: Slaughter Cost : 50.50 Se 600-750# : 3.44%: Se 750-900# : 9.74%: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Equivalent Values for Outlying Beef Carcass Types Basis Value = 361.30 Carcass Weights 400-500#500-600# 600-900# 900-1000# 1000#/up Qlty/Yield (1) -29.29 -17.11 -2.68 -15.45 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prime 1-3 13.41 $345.42 $357.60 $374.71 $372.03 $359.26 Certified 1-3 6.05 $338.06 $350.24 $367.35 $364.67 $351.90 Choice 1 3.35 $335.36 $347.54 $364.65 $361.97 $349.20 Select 1 -5.47 $326.54 $338.72 $355.83 $353.15 $340.38 Stndrd 1-3 -31.49 $300.52 $312.70 $329.81 $327.13 $314.36 Prime 4 -0.71 $331.30 $343.48 $360.59 $357.91 $345.14 Choice 4 -12.82 $319.19 $331.37 $348.48 $345.80 $333.03 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- *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