USDA Carcass Price Equivalent Index 09/15 15:31
09/15/2026 | 3:31 pm CDT USDA Carcass Price Equivalent Index 09/15 15:31
NW_LS410
Des Moines, IA Tue, Sep 15, 2026 USDA Market News
USDA BEEF CARCASS PRICE EQUIVALENT INDEX VALUE
CHOICE SELECT
Index 600-900# 600-900#
Values => $348.18 $327.97
Change => 0.88 1.39
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Current Index Reflects the Equivalent of 95,985 head of cattle.
SUPPLY (Live) 54,052 Hd
Equivalent: $332.27 $311.59
DEMAND (Box) 41,933 Hd*
Equivalent: $364.08 $344.36
Live-Box Spread: ($31.81) ($32.77)
---------------------------- Input Breakdown -----------------------------
National Daily Direct Cattle : Boxed Beef Cutouts
(5 day accumulated wghtd avg) : Ch 600-900# $376.08
Weight Price Head : Se 600-900# $356.36
Live Steer: 1544 $223.38 27,430: Current Lds: 101.1
Live Heifer: 1393 $223.91 10,864: Previous Lds: 97.2
Drsd Steer: 1019 $350.55 13,651
Drsd Heifer: 904 $350.13 2,107
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Grading % Breakdown : Drop Credit : 15.01
Ch 600-900# : 86.66%: Steer Dressing % : 63.64%
Ch 600-750# : 35.03%: Heifer Dressing %: 63.48%
Ch 750-900# : 51.63%: Processing Cost : 12.00
Se 600-900# : 13.34%: Slaughter Cost : 50.50
Se 600-750# : 3.48%:
Se 750-900# : 9.85%:
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Equivalent Values for Outlying Beef Carcass Types
Basis Value = 348.18 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 15.12 $334.01 $346.19 $363.30 $360.62 $347.85
Certified 1-3 5.93 $324.82 $337.00 $354.11 $351.43 $338.66
Choice 1 3.35 $322.24 $334.42 $351.53 $348.85 $336.08
Select 1 -16.86 $302.03 $314.21 $331.32 $328.64 $315.87
Stndrd 1-3 -37.02 $281.87 $294.05 $311.16 $308.48 $295.71
Prime 4 1.00 $319.89 $332.07 $349.18 $346.50 $333.73
Choice 4 -12.82 $306.07 $318.25 $335.36 $332.68 $319.91
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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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