USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture - August 18, 2025
NW_LS410
Des Moines, IA Mon, Aug 18, 2025 USDA Market News
USDA BEEF CARCASS PRICE EQUIVALENT INDEX VALUE
CHOICE SELECT
Index 600-900# 600-900#
Values => $379.64 $353.95
Change => 1.67 2.82
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Current Index Reflects the Equivalent of 82,288 head of cattle.
SUPPLY (Live) 46,047 Hd
Equivalent: $367.05 $342.76
DEMAND (Box) 36,241 Hd*
Equivalent: $392.24 $365.14
Live-Box Spread: ($25.19) ($22.38)
---------------------------- Input Breakdown -----------------------------
National Daily Direct Cattle : Boxed Beef Cutouts
(5 day accumulated wghtd avg) : Ch 600-900# $404.24
Weight Price Head : Se 600-900# $377.14
Live Steer: 1504 $242.25 23,408: Current Lds: 80.0
Live Heifer: 1348 $242.50 8,639: Previous Lds: 104.3
Drsd Steer: 976 $382.77 11,194
Drsd Heifer: 865 $383.65 2,806
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Grading % Breakdown : Drop Credit : 11.97
Ch 600-900# : 86.14%: Steer Dressing % : 63.73%
Ch 600-750# : 34.82%: Heifer Dressing %: 63.66%
Ch 750-900# : 51.32%: Processing Cost : 12.00
Se 600-900# : 13.86%: Slaughter Cost : 50.50
Se 600-750# : 3.62%:
Se 750-900# : 10.24%:
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Equivalent Values for Outlying Beef Carcass Types
Basis Value = 379.64 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 16.48 $366.83 $379.01 $396.12 $393.44 $380.67
Certified 1-3 5.43 $355.78 $367.96 $385.07 $382.39 $369.62
Choice 1 3.35 $353.70 $365.88 $382.99 $380.31 $367.54
Select 1 -20.48 $329.87 $342.05 $359.16 $356.48 $343.71
Stndrd 1-3 -36.20 $314.15 $326.33 $343.44 $340.76 $327.99
Prime 4 2.73 $353.08 $365.26 $382.37 $379.69 $366.92
Choice 4 -12.45 $337.90 $350.08 $367.19 $364.51 $351.74
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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
