USDA Carcass Price Equivalent Index 03/23 15:31

NW_LS410
Des Moines, IA     Mon, Mar 23, 2026     USDA Market News

USDA BEEF CARCASS PRICE EQUIVALENT INDEX VALUE

                             CHOICE              SELECT
Index                       600-900#            600-900#
 Values =>                    $372.42             $364.10
 Change =>                       1.03                2.01
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Current Index Reflects the Equivalent of 73,548 head of cattle.
SUPPLY (Live)  41,922 Hd
Equivalent:                   $357.72             $346.38
DEMAND (Box)   31,626 Hd*
Equivalent:                   $387.13             $381.83
Live-Box Spread:             ($29.41)            ($35.45)
----------------------------  Input Breakdown   -----------------------------
         National Daily Direct Cattle          :      Boxed Beef Cutouts
        (5 day accumulated wghtd avg)          : Ch 600-900#          $399.13
                  Weight   Price     Head      : Se 600-900#          $393.83
  Live Steer:          1581   $235.45    17,909: Current Lds:            73.2
  Live Heifer:         1431   $235.18    12,046: Previous Lds:           84.4
  Drsd Steer:          1023   $372.06     9,895
  Drsd Heifer:          905   $371.99     2,072
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      Grading % Breakdown            :         Drop Credit      :       12.25
 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 = 372.42                       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   $355.89   $368.07   $385.18   $382.50   $369.73
 Certified 1-3         6.18   $349.31   $361.49   $378.60   $375.92   $363.15
 Choice 1              3.35   $346.48   $358.66   $375.77   $373.09   $360.32
 Select 1             -7.47   $335.66   $347.84   $364.95   $362.27   $349.50
 Stndrd 1-3          -32.20   $310.93   $323.11   $340.22   $337.54   $324.77
 Prime 4              -1.36   $341.77   $353.95   $371.06   $368.38   $355.61
 Choice 4            -12.82   $330.31   $342.49   $359.60   $356.92   $344.15
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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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