USDA Carcass Price Equivalent Index 05/18 15:31

NW_LS410
Des Moines, IA     Mon, May 18, 2026     USDA Market News

USDA BEEF CARCASS PRICE EQUIVALENT INDEX VALUE

                             CHOICE              SELECT
Index                       600-900#            600-900#
 Values =>                    $387.14             $382.14
 Change =>                       1.84                0.61
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Current Index Reflects the Equivalent of 99,088 head of cattle.
SUPPLY (Live)  61,646 Hd
Equivalent:                   $394.14             $386.06
DEMAND (Box)   37,442 Hd*
Equivalent:                   $380.14             $378.23
Live-Box Spread:              $14.00               $7.83
----------------------------  Input Breakdown   -----------------------------
         National Daily Direct Cattle          :      Boxed Beef Cutouts
        (5 day accumulated wghtd avg)          : Ch 600-900#          $392.14
                  Weight   Price     Head      : Se 600-900#          $390.23
  Live Steer:          1559   $263.33    32,087: Current Lds:            83.6
  Live Heifer:         1381   $263.28    12,475: Previous Lds:          102.9
  Drsd Steer:          1011   $410.44    13,644
  Drsd Heifer:          895   $412.98     3,440
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      Grading % Breakdown            :         Drop Credit      :       14.69
 Ch 600-900# :                 86.74%:         Steer Dressing % :      63.50%
 Ch 600-750# :                 35.06%:         Heifer Dressing %:      63.46%
 Ch 750-900# :                 51.68%:         Processing Cost  :       12.00
 Se 600-900# :                 13.26%:         Slaughter Cost   :       50.50
 Se 600-750# :                  3.46%:
 Se 750-900# :                  9.80%:
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 Equivalent Values for Outlying Beef Carcass Types
 Basis Value = 387.14                       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            13.19   $371.04   $383.22   $400.33   $397.65   $384.88
 Certified 1-3         5.55   $363.40   $375.58   $392.69   $390.01   $377.24
 Choice 1              3.35   $361.20   $373.38   $390.49   $387.81   $375.04
 Select 1             -4.20   $353.65   $365.83   $382.94   $380.26   $367.49
 Stndrd 1-3          -30.74   $327.11   $339.29   $356.40   $353.72   $340.95
 Prime 4              -0.93   $356.92   $369.10   $386.21   $383.53   $370.76
 Choice 4            -12.82   $345.03   $357.21   $374.32   $371.64   $358.87
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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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