USDA Carcass Price Equivalent Index 01/27 15:26
01/27/2026 | 3:26 pm CST USDA Carcass Price Equivalent Index 01/27 15:26
NW_LS410
Des Moines, IA Tue, Jan 27, 2026 USDA Market News
USDA BEEF CARCASS PRICE EQUIVALENT INDEX VALUE
CHOICE SELECT
Index 600-900# 600-900#
Values => $356.46 $350.41
Change => -0.40 -0.98
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current Index Reflects the Equivalent of 101,362 head of cattle.
SUPPLY (Live) 59,742 Hd
Equivalent: $356.80 $347.63
DEMAND (Box) 41,620 Hd*
Equivalent: $356.11 $353.19
Live-Box Spread: $0.69 ($5.56)
---------------------------- Input Breakdown -----------------------------
National Daily Direct Cattle : Boxed Beef Cutouts
(5 day accumulated wghtd avg) : Ch 600-900# $368.11
Weight Price Head : Se 600-900# $365.19
Live Steer: 1580 $234.74 33,443: Current Lds: 102.2
Live Heifer: 1408 $234.55 13,816: Previous Lds: 96.9
Drsd Steer: 1001 $368.75 9,834
Drsd Heifer: 891 $369.34 2,649
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Grading % Breakdown : Drop Credit : 11.71
Ch 600-900# : 86.91%: Steer Dressing % : 63.35%
Ch 600-750# : 35.13%: Heifer Dressing %: 63.28%
Ch 750-900# : 51.78%: Processing Cost : 12.00
Se 600-900# : 13.09%: Slaughter Cost : 50.50
Se 600-750# : 3.42%:
Se 750-900# : 9.67%:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Equivalent Values for Outlying Beef Carcass Types
Basis Value = 356.46 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 14.62 $341.79 $353.97 $371.08 $368.40 $355.63
Certified 1-3 5.55 $332.72 $344.90 $362.01 $359.33 $346.56
Choice 1 3.35 $330.52 $342.70 $359.81 $357.13 $344.36
Select 1 -5.29 $321.88 $334.06 $351.17 $348.49 $335.72
Stndrd 1-3 -31.27 $295.90 $308.08 $325.19 $322.51 $309.74
Prime 4 0.50 $327.67 $339.85 $356.96 $354.28 $341.51
Choice 4 -12.82 $314.35 $326.53 $343.64 $340.96 $328.19
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
*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
[0600059D]