USDA Carcass Price Equivalent Index 03/05 15:21

NW_LS410
Des Moines, IA     Thu, Mar 05, 2026     USDA Market News

USDA BEEF CARCASS PRICE EQUIVALENT INDEX VALUE

                             CHOICE              SELECT
Index                       600-900#            600-900#
 Values =>                    $370.49             $362.41
 Change =>                      -0.84                0.13
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Current Index Reflects the Equivalent of 73,081 head of cattle.
SUPPLY (Live)  41,189 Hd
Equivalent:                   $366.10             $356.21
DEMAND (Box)   31,892 Hd*
Equivalent:                   $374.89             $368.61
Live-Box Spread:              ($8.79)            ($12.40)
----------------------------  Input Breakdown   -----------------------------
         National Daily Direct Cattle          :      Boxed Beef Cutouts
        (5 day accumulated wghtd avg)          : Ch 600-900#          $386.89
                  Weight   Price     Head      : Se 600-900#          $380.61
  Live Steer:          1572   $242.62    18,743: Current Lds:            96.2
  Live Heifer:         1415   $242.86    11,851: Previous Lds:           92.4
  Drsd Steer:          1018   $382.63     8,877
  Drsd Heifer:          916   $382.30     1,718
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      Grading % Breakdown            :         Drop Credit      :       12.18
 Ch 600-900# :                 86.61%:         Steer Dressing % :      63.51%
 Ch 600-750# :                 35.01%:         Heifer Dressing %:      63.32%
 Ch 750-900# :                 51.60%:         Processing Cost  :       12.00
 Se 600-900# :                 13.39%:         Slaughter Cost   :       50.50
 Se 600-750# :                  3.50%:
 Se 750-900# :                  9.89%:
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 Equivalent Values for Outlying Beef Carcass Types
 Basis Value = 370.49                       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            13.26   $354.46   $366.64   $383.75   $381.07   $368.30
 Certified 1-3         5.80   $347.00   $359.18   $376.29   $373.61   $360.84
 Choice 1              3.35   $344.55   $356.73   $373.84   $371.16   $358.39
 Select 1             -6.01   $335.19   $347.37   $364.48   $361.80   $349.03
 Stndrd 1-3          -31.77   $309.43   $321.61   $338.72   $336.04   $323.27
 Prime 4              -0.86   $340.34   $352.52   $369.63   $366.95   $354.18
 Choice 4            -12.82   $328.38   $340.56   $357.67   $354.99   $342.22
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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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