USDA Carcass Price Equivalent Index 01/20 15:31
01/20/2026 | 3:31 pm CST USDA Carcass Price Equivalent Index 01/20 15:31
NW_LS410
Des Moines, IA Tue, Jan 20, 2026 USDA Market News
USDA BEEF CARCASS PRICE EQUIVALENT INDEX VALUE
CHOICE SELECT
Index 600-900# 600-900#
Values => $352.97 $346.10
Change => 0.19 -0.28
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Current Index Reflects the Equivalent of 100,292 head of cattle.
SUPPLY (Live) 57,804 Hd
Equivalent: $353.17 $344.37
DEMAND (Box) 42,488 Hd*
Equivalent: $352.76 $347.84
Live-Box Spread: $0.41 ($3.47)
---------------------------- Input Breakdown -----------------------------
National Daily Direct Cattle : Boxed Beef Cutouts
(5 day accumulated wghtd avg) : Ch 600-900# $364.76
Weight Price Head : Se 600-900# $359.84
Live Steer: 1567 $232.47 28,633: Current Lds: 117.5
Live Heifer: 1407 $232.39 17,266: Previous Lds: 81.7
Drsd Steer: 1004 $364.52 9,149
Drsd Heifer: 900 $364.78 2,756
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Grading % Breakdown : Drop Credit : 11.75
Ch 600-900# : 86.89%: Steer Dressing % : 63.33%
Ch 600-750# : 35.12%: Heifer Dressing %: 63.23%
Ch 750-900# : 51.77%: Processing Cost : 12.00
Se 600-900# : 13.11%: Slaughter Cost : 50.50
Se 600-750# : 3.42%:
Se 750-900# : 9.69%:
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Equivalent Values for Outlying Beef Carcass Types
Basis Value = 352.97 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 14.76 $338.44 $350.62 $367.73 $365.05 $352.28
Certified 1-3 5.43 $329.11 $341.29 $358.40 $355.72 $342.95
Choice 1 3.35 $327.03 $339.21 $356.32 $353.64 $340.87
Select 1 -4.92 $318.76 $330.94 $348.05 $345.37 $332.60
Stndrd 1-3 -31.70 $291.98 $304.16 $321.27 $318.59 $305.82
Prime 4 0.64 $324.32 $336.50 $353.61 $350.93 $338.16
Choice 4 -12.82 $310.86 $323.04 $340.15 $337.47 $324.70
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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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