USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture - August 21, 2025
NW_LS410
Des Moines, IA Thu, Aug 21, 2025 USDA Market News
USDA BEEF CARCASS PRICE EQUIVALENT INDEX VALUE
CHOICE SELECT
Index 600-900# 600-900#
Values => $382.15 $357.88
Change => 1.51 0.73
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Current Index Reflects the Equivalent of 96,992 head of cattle.
SUPPLY (Live) 62,300 Hd
Equivalent: $368.44 $344.16
DEMAND (Box) 34,692 Hd*
Equivalent: $395.86 $371.60
Live-Box Spread: ($27.42) ($27.44)
---------------------------- Input Breakdown -----------------------------
National Daily Direct Cattle : Boxed Beef Cutouts
(5 day accumulated wghtd avg) : Ch 600-900# $407.86
Weight Price Head : Se 600-900# $383.60
Live Steer: 1515 $242.99 31,006: Current Lds: 73.6
Live Heifer: 1354 $243.27 12,848: Previous Lds: 101.9
Drsd Steer: 976 $384.26 14,509
Drsd Heifer: 872 $384.96 3,937
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Grading % Breakdown : Drop Credit : 11.89
Ch 600-900# : 86.14%: Steer Dressing % : 63.72%
Ch 600-750# : 34.82%: Heifer Dressing %: 63.63%
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 = 382.15 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 $369.34 $381.52 $398.63 $395.95 $383.18
Certified 1-3 5.43 $358.29 $370.47 $387.58 $384.90 $372.13
Choice 1 3.35 $356.21 $368.39 $385.50 $382.82 $370.05
Select 1 -20.48 $332.38 $344.56 $361.67 $358.99 $346.22
Stndrd 1-3 -36.20 $316.66 $328.84 $345.95 $343.27 $330.50
Prime 4 2.73 $355.59 $367.77 $384.88 $382.20 $369.43
Choice 4 -12.45 $340.41 $352.59 $369.70 $367.02 $354.25
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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
