USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture - August 19, 2025
NW_LS410
Des Moines, IA Tue, Aug 19, 2025 USDA Market News
USDA BEEF CARCASS PRICE EQUIVALENT INDEX VALUE
CHOICE SELECT
Index 600-900# 600-900#
Values => $381.12 $355.26
Change => 1.48 1.31
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Current Index Reflects the Equivalent of 82,135 head of cattle.
SUPPLY (Live) 46,083 Hd
Equivalent: $367.05 $342.76
DEMAND (Box) 36,052 Hd*
Equivalent: $395.20 $367.76
Live-Box Spread: ($28.15) ($25.00)
---------------------------- Input Breakdown -----------------------------
National Daily Direct Cattle : Boxed Beef Cutouts
(5 day accumulated wghtd avg) : Ch 600-900# $407.20
Weight Price Head : Se 600-900# $379.76
Live Steer: 1504 $242.24 23,444: Current Lds: 102.8
Live Heifer: 1348 $242.50 8,639: Previous Lds: 80.0
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 % : 63.72%
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 = 381.12 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 $368.31 $380.49 $397.60 $394.92 $382.15
Certified 1-3 5.43 $357.26 $369.44 $386.55 $383.87 $371.10
Choice 1 3.35 $355.18 $367.36 $384.47 $381.79 $369.02
Select 1 -20.48 $331.35 $343.53 $360.64 $357.96 $345.19
Stndrd 1-3 -36.20 $315.63 $327.81 $344.92 $342.24 $329.47
Prime 4 2.73 $354.56 $366.74 $383.85 $381.17 $368.40
Choice 4 -12.45 $339.38 $351.56 $368.67 $365.99 $353.22
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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
