USDA Carcass Price Equivalent Index 03/24 15:41

NW_LS410
Des Moines, IA     Tue, Mar 24, 2026     USDA Market News

USDA BEEF CARCASS PRICE EQUIVALENT INDEX VALUE

                             CHOICE              SELECT
Index                       600-900#            600-900#
 Values =>                    $372.76             $364.38
 Change =>                       0.34                0.28
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Current Index Reflects the Equivalent of 72,470 head of cattle.
SUPPLY (Live)  41,943 Hd
Equivalent:                   $357.60             $346.26
DEMAND (Box)   30,527 Hd*
Equivalent:                   $387.91             $382.50
Live-Box Spread:             ($30.31)            ($36.24)
----------------------------  Input Breakdown   -----------------------------
         National Daily Direct Cattle          :      Boxed Beef Cutouts
        (5 day accumulated wghtd avg)          : Ch 600-900#          $399.91
                  Weight   Price     Head      : Se 600-900#          $394.50
  Live Steer:          1581   $235.45    17,956: Current Lds:            92.0
  Live Heifer:         1431   $235.18    12,046: Previous Lds:           73.2
  Drsd Steer:          1024   $372.03     9,869
  Drsd Heifer:          905   $371.99     2,072
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      Grading % Breakdown            :         Drop Credit      :       12.32
 Ch 600-900# :                 86.70%:         Steer Dressing % :      63.10%
 Ch 600-750# :                 35.05%:         Heifer Dressing %:      62.64%
 Ch 750-900# :                 51.65%:         Processing Cost  :       12.00
 Se 600-900# :                 13.30%:         Slaughter Cost   :       50.50
 Se 600-750# :                  3.47%:
 Se 750-900# :                  9.83%:
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 Equivalent Values for Outlying Beef Carcass Types
 Basis Value = 372.76                       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            12.76   $356.23   $368.41   $385.52   $382.84   $370.07
 Certified 1-3         6.18   $349.65   $361.83   $378.94   $376.26   $363.49
 Choice 1              3.35   $346.82   $359.00   $376.11   $373.43   $360.66
 Select 1             -7.47   $336.00   $348.18   $365.29   $362.61   $349.84
 Stndrd 1-3          -32.20   $311.27   $323.45   $340.56   $337.88   $325.11
 Prime 4              -1.36   $342.11   $354.29   $371.40   $368.72   $355.95
 Choice 4            -12.82   $330.65   $342.83   $359.94   $357.26   $344.49
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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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