USDA Carcass Price Equivalent Index 03/17 15:31

NW_LS410
Des Moines, IA     Tue, Mar 17, 2026     USDA Market News

USDA BEEF CARCASS PRICE EQUIVALENT INDEX VALUE

                             CHOICE              SELECT
Index                       600-900#            600-900#
 Values =>                    $372.78             $363.77
 Change =>                       0.32                1.10
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Current Index Reflects the Equivalent of 66,726 head of cattle.
SUPPLY (Live)  35,494 Hd
Equivalent:                   $354.25             $342.82
DEMAND (Box)   31,232 Hd*
Equivalent:                   $391.31             $384.72
Live-Box Spread:             ($37.06)            ($41.90)
----------------------------  Input Breakdown   -----------------------------
         National Daily Direct Cattle          :      Boxed Beef Cutouts
        (5 day accumulated wghtd avg)          : Ch 600-900#          $403.31
                  Weight   Price     Head      : Se 600-900#          $396.72
  Live Steer:          1588   $234.96    14,703: Current Lds:           106.6
  Live Heifer:         1405   $234.94     7,124: Previous Lds:           56.1
  Drsd Steer:          1030   $372.10    12,377
  Drsd Heifer:          912   $372.00     1,290
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      Grading % Breakdown            :         Drop Credit      :       12.21
 Ch 600-900# :                 86.59%:         Steer Dressing % :      63.60%
 Ch 600-750# :                 35.00%:         Heifer Dressing %:      63.33%
 Ch 750-900# :                 51.59%:         Processing Cost  :       12.00
 Se 600-900# :                 13.41%:         Slaughter Cost   :       50.50
 Se 600-750# :                  3.50%:
 Se 750-900# :                  9.91%:
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 Equivalent Values for Outlying Beef Carcass Types
 Basis Value = 372.78                       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            12.91   $356.40   $368.58   $385.69   $383.01   $370.24
 Certified 1-3         5.93   $349.42   $361.60   $378.71   $376.03   $363.26
 Choice 1              3.35   $346.84   $359.02   $376.13   $373.45   $360.68
 Select 1             -7.56   $335.93   $348.11   $365.22   $362.54   $349.77
 Stndrd 1-3          -32.41   $311.08   $323.26   $340.37   $337.69   $324.92
 Prime 4              -1.21   $342.28   $354.46   $371.57   $368.89   $356.12
 Choice 4            -12.82   $330.67   $342.85   $359.96   $357.28   $344.51
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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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