USDA Carcass Price Equivalent Index 03/30 15:36

NW_LS410
Des Moines, IA     Mon, Mar 30, 2026     USDA Market News

USDA BEEF CARCASS PRICE EQUIVALENT INDEX VALUE

                             CHOICE              SELECT
Index                       600-900#            600-900#
 Values =>                    $368.71             $362.49
 Change =>                      -0.02                0.98
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Current Index Reflects the Equivalent of 77,978 head of cattle.
SUPPLY (Live)  41,048 Hd
Equivalent:                   $355.33             $345.98
DEMAND (Box)   36,930 Hd*
Equivalent:                   $382.10             $379.01
Live-Box Spread:             ($26.77)            ($33.03)
----------------------------  Input Breakdown   -----------------------------
         National Daily Direct Cattle          :      Boxed Beef Cutouts
        (5 day accumulated wghtd avg)          : Ch 600-900#          $394.10
                  Weight   Price     Head      : Se 600-900#          $391.01
  Live Steer:          1589   $236.15    20,982: Current Lds:            77.4
  Live Heifer:         1442   $235.60    10,220: Previous Lds:          106.9
  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%:
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 Equivalent Values for Outlying Beef Carcass Types
 Basis Value = 368.71                       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   $352.04   $364.22   $381.33   $378.65   $365.88
 Certified 1-3         5.93   $345.35   $357.53   $374.64   $371.96   $359.19
 Choice 1              3.35   $342.77   $354.95   $372.06   $369.38   $356.61
 Select 1             -5.47   $333.95   $346.13   $363.24   $360.56   $347.79
 Stndrd 1-3          -31.91   $307.51   $319.69   $336.80   $334.12   $321.35
 Prime 4              -1.50   $337.92   $350.10   $367.21   $364.53   $351.76
 Choice 4            -12.82   $326.60   $338.78   $355.89   $353.21   $340.44
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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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