USDA Carcass Price Equivalent Index 04/21 15:31

NW_LS410
Des Moines, IA     Tue, Apr 21, 2026     USDA Market News

USDA BEEF CARCASS PRICE EQUIVALENT INDEX VALUE

                             CHOICE              SELECT
Index                       600-900#            600-900#
 Values =>                    $372.64             $369.06
 Change =>                       1.28                1.76
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Current Index Reflects the Equivalent of 110,257 head of cattle.
SUPPLY (Live)  74,468 Hd
Equivalent:                   $371.10             $362.92
DEMAND (Box)   35,789 Hd*
Equivalent:                   $374.18             $375.20
Live-Box Spread:              ($3.08)            ($12.28)
----------------------------  Input Breakdown   -----------------------------
         National Daily Direct Cattle          :      Boxed Beef Cutouts
        (5 day accumulated wghtd avg)          : Ch 600-900#          $386.18
                  Weight   Price     Head      : Se 600-900#          $387.20
  Live Steer:          1576   $248.07    32,836: Current Lds:           110.7
  Live Heifer:         1414   $248.08    20,348: Previous Lds:           64.7
  Drsd Steer:          1030   $388.19    15,690
  Drsd Heifer:          898   $387.99     5,594
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      Grading % Breakdown            :         Drop Credit      :       13.72
 Ch 600-900# :                 86.70%:         Steer Dressing % :      63.66%
 Ch 600-750# :                 35.04%:         Heifer Dressing %:      63.58%
 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 = 372.64                       Carcass Weights
                             400-500#500-600#  600-900#  900-1000#  1000#/up
 Qlty/Yield      (1)           -29.29    -17.11               -2.68    -15.45
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Prime 1-3            12.98   $356.33   $368.51   $385.62   $382.94   $370.17
 Certified 1-3         5.55   $348.90   $361.08   $378.19   $375.51   $362.74
 Choice 1              3.35   $346.70   $358.88   $375.99   $373.31   $360.54
 Select 1             -4.29   $339.06   $351.24   $368.35   $365.67   $352.90
 Stndrd 1-3          -30.99   $312.36   $324.54   $341.65   $338.97   $326.20
 Prime 4              -1.14   $342.21   $354.39   $371.50   $368.82   $356.05
 Choice 4            -12.82   $330.53   $342.71   $359.82   $357.14   $344.37
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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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