USDA Carcass Price Equivalent Index 01/05 15:41
01/05/2026 | 3:41 pm CST USDA Carcass Price Equivalent Index 01/05 15:41
NW_LS410
Des Moines, IA Mon, Jan 05, 2026 USDA Market News
USDA BEEF CARCASS PRICE EQUIVALENT INDEX VALUE
CHOICE SELECT
Index 600-900# 600-900#
Values => $346.24 $339.72
Change => 1.97 4.56
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Current Index Reflects the Equivalent of 99,779 head of cattle.
SUPPLY (Live) 44,571 Hd
Equivalent: $350.77 $339.93
DEMAND (Box) 55,208 Hd*
Equivalent: $341.70 $339.50
Live-Box Spread: $9.07 $0.43
---------------------------- Input Breakdown -----------------------------
National Daily Direct Cattle : Boxed Beef Cutouts
(5 day accumulated wghtd avg) : Ch 600-900# $353.70
Weight Price Head : Se 600-900# $351.50
Live Steer: 1569 $230.99 27,567: Current Lds: 118.5
Live Heifer: 1397 $231.16 11,401: Previous Lds: 85.2
Drsd Steer: 1012 $360.57 4,582
Drsd Heifer: 940 $359.93 1,021
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Grading % Breakdown : Drop Credit : 11.69
Ch 600-900# : 86.35%: Steer Dressing % : 63.47%
Ch 600-750# : 34.91%: Heifer Dressing %: 63.40%
Ch 750-900# : 51.45%: Processing Cost : 12.00
Se 600-900# : 13.65%: Slaughter Cost : 50.50
Se 600-750# : 3.56%:
Se 750-900# : 10.08%:
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Equivalent Values for Outlying Beef Carcass Types
Basis Value = 346.24 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 16.26 $333.21 $345.39 $362.50 $359.82 $347.05
Certified 1-3 5.55 $322.50 $334.68 $351.79 $349.11 $336.34
Choice 1 3.35 $320.30 $332.48 $349.59 $346.91 $334.14
Select 1 -6.97 $309.98 $322.16 $339.27 $336.59 $323.82
Stndrd 1-3 -32.81 $284.14 $296.32 $313.43 $310.75 $297.98
Prime 4 2.14 $319.09 $331.27 $348.38 $345.70 $332.93
Choice 4 -12.82 $304.13 $316.31 $333.42 $330.74 $317.97
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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
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