USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture - August 26, 2025
NW_LS410
Des Moines, IA Tue, Aug 26, 2025 USDA Market News
USDA BEEF CARCASS PRICE EQUIVALENT INDEX VALUE
CHOICE SELECT
Index 600-900# 600-900#
Values => $386.71 $363.07
Change => 2.34 2.70
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current Index Reflects the Equivalent of 94,089 head of cattle.
SUPPLY (Live) 59,374 Hd
Equivalent: $372.25 $347.38
DEMAND (Box) 34,715 Hd*
Equivalent: $401.17 $378.76
Live-Box Spread: ($28.92) ($31.38)
---------------------------- Input Breakdown -----------------------------
National Daily Direct Cattle : Boxed Beef Cutouts
(5 day accumulated wghtd avg) : Ch 600-900# $413.17
Weight Price Head : Se 600-900# $390.76
Live Steer: 1512 $244.33 31,351: Current Lds: 106.4
Live Heifer: 1349 $243.31 14,729: Previous Lds: 62.7
Drsd Steer: 978 $386.09 10,848
Drsd Heifer: 870 $386.10 2,446
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Grading % Breakdown : Drop Credit : 11.86
Ch 600-900# : 86.81%: Steer Dressing % : 63.56%
Ch 600-750# : 35.09%: Heifer Dressing %: 63.40%
Ch 750-900# : 51.72%: Processing Cost : 12.00
Se 600-900# : 13.19%: Slaughter Cost : 50.50
Se 600-750# : 3.44%:
Se 750-900# : 9.75%:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Equivalent Values for Outlying Beef Carcass Types
Basis Value = 386.71 Carcass Weights
400-500#500-600# 600-900# 900-1000# 1000#/up
Qlty/Yield (1) -29.29 -17.11 -2.68 -15.45
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prime 1-3 16.62 $374.04 $386.22 $403.33 $400.65 $387.88
Certified 1-3 5.68 $363.10 $375.28 $392.39 $389.71 $376.94
Choice 1 3.35 $360.77 $372.95 $390.06 $387.38 $374.61
Select 1 -21.07 $336.35 $348.53 $365.64 $362.96 $350.19
Stndrd 1-3 -37.41 $320.01 $332.19 $349.30 $346.62 $333.85
Prime 4 2.50 $359.92 $372.10 $389.21 $386.53 $373.76
Choice 4 -12.82 $344.60 $356.78 $373.89 $371.21 $358.44
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
*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
