USDA Carcass Price Equivalent Index 04/06 15:26
04/06/2026 | 3:26 pm CDT USDA Carcass Price Equivalent Index 04/06 15:26
NW_LS410
Des Moines, IA Mon, Apr 06, 2026 USDA Market News
USDA BEEF CARCASS PRICE EQUIVALENT INDEX VALUE
CHOICE SELECT
Index 600-900# 600-900#
Values => $372.11 $368.05
Change => 0.51 1.92
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Current Index Reflects the Equivalent of 99,182 head of cattle.
SUPPLY (Live) 62,649 Hd
Equivalent: $368.18 $359.73
DEMAND (Box) 36,533 Hd*
Equivalent: $376.04 $376.37
Live-Box Spread: ($7.86) ($16.64)
---------------------------- Input Breakdown -----------------------------
National Daily Direct Cattle : Boxed Beef Cutouts
(5 day accumulated wghtd avg) : Ch 600-900# $388.04
Weight Price Head : Se 600-900# $388.37
Live Steer: 1574 $245.01 30,734: Current Lds: 76.2
Live Heifer: 1416 $245.05 17,832: Previous Lds: 101.6
Drsd Steer: 1020 $384.48 10,529
Drsd Heifer: 902 $384.52 3,554
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Grading % Breakdown : Drop Credit : 13.59
Ch 600-900# : 86.59%: Steer Dressing % : 63.28%
Ch 600-750# : 35.00%: Heifer Dressing %: 63.17%
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 = 372.11 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 $355.44 $367.62 $384.73 $382.05 $369.28
Certified 1-3 5.93 $348.75 $360.93 $378.04 $375.36 $362.59
Choice 1 3.35 $346.17 $358.35 $375.46 $372.78 $360.01
Select 1 -4.56 $338.26 $350.44 $367.55 $364.87 $352.10
Stndrd 1-3 -31.20 $311.62 $323.80 $340.91 $338.23 $325.46
Prime 4 -1.50 $341.32 $353.50 $370.61 $367.93 $355.16
Choice 4 -12.82 $330.00 $342.18 $359.29 $356.61 $343.84
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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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