USDA Carcass Price Equivalent Index 03/31 15:26

NW_LS410
Des Moines, IA     Tue, Mar 31, 2026     USDA Market News

USDA BEEF CARCASS PRICE EQUIVALENT INDEX VALUE

                             CHOICE              SELECT
Index                       600-900#            600-900#
 Values =>                    $369.43             $363.47
 Change =>                       0.72                0.98
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Current Index Reflects the Equivalent of 78,294 head of cattle.
SUPPLY (Live)  41,091 Hd
Equivalent:                   $355.36             $346.01
DEMAND (Box)   37,203 Hd*
Equivalent:                   $383.49             $380.93
Live-Box Spread:             ($28.13)            ($34.92)
----------------------------  Input Breakdown   -----------------------------
         National Daily Direct Cattle          :      Boxed Beef Cutouts
        (5 day accumulated wghtd avg)          : Ch 600-900#          $395.49
                  Weight   Price     Head      : Se 600-900#          $392.93
  Live Steer:          1589   $236.17    20,988: Current Lds:            95.6
  Live Heifer:         1442   $235.62    10,257: Previous Lds:           77.4
  Drsd Steer:          1014   $371.82     7,513
  Drsd Heifer:          897   $371.54     2,333
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      Grading % Breakdown            :         Drop Credit      :       12.46
 Ch 600-900# :                 86.72%:         Steer Dressing % :      63.60%
 Ch 600-750# :                 35.05%:         Heifer Dressing %:      63.52%
 Ch 750-900# :                 51.66%:         Processing Cost  :       12.00
 Se 600-900# :                 13.28%:         Slaughter Cost   :       50.50
 Se 600-750# :                  3.47%:
 Se 750-900# :                  9.82%:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Equivalent Values for Outlying Beef Carcass Types
 Basis Value = 369.43                       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            12.62   $352.76   $364.94   $382.05   $379.37   $366.60
 Certified 1-3         5.93   $346.07   $358.25   $375.36   $372.68   $359.91
 Choice 1              3.35   $343.49   $355.67   $372.78   $370.10   $357.33
 Select 1             -5.47   $334.67   $346.85   $363.96   $361.28   $348.51
 Stndrd 1-3          -31.91   $308.23   $320.41   $337.52   $334.84   $322.07
 Prime 4              -1.50   $338.64   $350.82   $367.93   $365.25   $352.48
 Choice 4            -12.82   $327.32   $339.50   $356.61   $353.93   $341.16
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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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