USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture - August 20, 2025
NW_LS410
Des Moines, IA Wed, Aug 20, 2025 USDA Market News
USDA BEEF CARCASS PRICE EQUIVALENT INDEX VALUE
CHOICE SELECT
Index 600-900# 600-900#
Values => $380.64 $357.15
Change => -0.48 1.89
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Current Index Reflects the Equivalent of 84,273 head of cattle.
SUPPLY (Live) 48,407 Hd
Equivalent: $367.42 $343.14
DEMAND (Box) 35,866 Hd*
Equivalent: $393.85 $371.16
Live-Box Spread: ($26.43) ($28.02)
---------------------------- Input Breakdown -----------------------------
National Daily Direct Cattle : Boxed Beef Cutouts
(5 day accumulated wghtd avg) : Ch 600-900# $405.85
Weight Price Head : Se 600-900# $383.16
Live Steer: 1510 $242.54 25,728: Current Lds: 101.9
Live Heifer: 1349 $242.51 8,726: Previous Lds: 102.8
Drsd Steer: 975 $382.78 11,231
Drsd Heifer: 865 $383.61 2,722
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Grading % Breakdown : Drop Credit : 11.88
Ch 600-900# : 86.14%: Steer Dressing % : 63.71%
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 = 380.64 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 $367.83 $380.01 $397.12 $394.44 $381.67
Certified 1-3 5.43 $356.78 $368.96 $386.07 $383.39 $370.62
Choice 1 3.35 $354.70 $366.88 $383.99 $381.31 $368.54
Select 1 -20.48 $330.87 $343.05 $360.16 $357.48 $344.71
Stndrd 1-3 -36.20 $315.15 $327.33 $344.44 $341.76 $328.99
Prime 4 2.73 $354.08 $366.26 $383.37 $380.69 $367.92
Choice 4 -12.45 $338.90 $351.08 $368.19 $365.51 $352.74
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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
