USDA Carcass Price Equivalent Index 04/28 15:26

NW_LS410
Des Moines, IA     Tue, Apr 28, 2026     USDA Market News

USDA BEEF CARCASS PRICE EQUIVALENT INDEX VALUE

                             CHOICE              SELECT
Index                       600-900#            600-900#
 Values =>                    $373.17             $369.34
 Change =>                      -0.30                0.12
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Current Index Reflects the Equivalent of 86,099 head of cattle.
SUPPLY (Live)  49,698 Hd
Equivalent:                   $369.44             $361.90
DEMAND (Box)   36,401 Hd*
Equivalent:                   $376.90             $376.78
Live-Box Spread:              ($7.46)            ($14.88)
----------------------------  Input Breakdown   -----------------------------
         National Daily Direct Cattle          :      Boxed Beef Cutouts
        (5 day accumulated wghtd avg)          : Ch 600-900#          $388.90
                  Weight   Price     Head      : Se 600-900#          $388.78
  Live Steer:          1576   $246.26    23,839: Current Lds:            98.0
  Live Heifer:         1413   $246.18    15,373: Previous Lds:           94.3
  Drsd Steer:          1016   $386.23     7,475
  Drsd Heifer:          904   $385.93     3,011
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      Grading % Breakdown            :         Drop Credit      :       13.73
 Ch 600-900# :                 86.67%:         Steer Dressing % :      63.39%
 Ch 600-750# :                 35.04%:         Heifer Dressing %:      63.32%
 Ch 750-900# :                 51.64%:         Processing Cost  :       12.00
 Se 600-900# :                 13.33%:         Slaughter Cost   :       50.50
 Se 600-750# :                  3.48%:
 Se 750-900# :                  9.85%:
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 Equivalent Values for Outlying Beef Carcass Types
 Basis Value = 373.17                       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            13.19   $357.07   $369.25   $386.36   $383.68   $370.91
 Certified 1-3         5.55   $349.43   $361.61   $378.72   $376.04   $363.27
 Choice 1              3.35   $347.23   $359.41   $376.52   $373.84   $361.07
 Select 1             -3.65   $340.23   $352.41   $369.52   $366.84   $354.07
 Stndrd 1-3          -30.84   $313.04   $325.22   $342.33   $339.65   $326.88
 Prime 4              -0.93   $342.95   $355.13   $372.24   $369.56   $356.79
 Choice 4            -12.82   $331.06   $343.24   $360.35   $357.67   $344.90
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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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