USDA Carcass Price Equivalent Index 02/20 15:31

NW_LS410
Des Moines, IA     Fri, Feb 20, 2026     USDA Market News

USDA BEEF CARCASS PRICE EQUIVALENT INDEX VALUE

                             CHOICE              SELECT
Index                       600-900#            600-900#
 Values =>                    $363.14             $355.48
 Change =>                       0.73                0.44
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Current Index Reflects the Equivalent of 87,274 head of cattle.
SUPPLY (Live)  50,993 Hd
Equivalent:                   $371.58             $362.23
DEMAND (Box)   36,281 Hd*
Equivalent:                   $354.70             $348.74
Live-Box Spread:              $16.88              $13.49
----------------------------  Input Breakdown   -----------------------------
         National Daily Direct Cattle          :      Boxed Beef Cutouts
        (5 day accumulated wghtd avg)          : Ch 600-900#          $366.70
                  Weight   Price     Head      : Se 600-900#          $360.74
  Live Steer:          1587   $245.24    28,364: Current Lds:           106.2
  Live Heifer:         1403   $245.71    13,465: Previous Lds:           97.4
  Drsd Steer:          1014   $381.16     6,980
  Drsd Heifer:          917   $380.96     2,184
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      Grading % Breakdown            :         Drop Credit      :       11.96
 Ch 600-900# :                 86.83%:         Steer Dressing % :      63.42%
 Ch 600-750# :                 35.10%:         Heifer Dressing %:      63.36%
 Ch 750-900# :                 51.73%:         Processing Cost  :       12.00
 Se 600-900# :                 13.17%:         Slaughter Cost   :       50.50
 Se 600-750# :                  3.44%:
 Se 750-900# :                  9.73%:
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 Equivalent Values for Outlying Beef Carcass Types
 Basis Value = 363.14                       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            13.26   $347.11   $359.29   $376.40   $373.72   $360.95
 Certified 1-3         5.93   $339.78   $351.96   $369.07   $366.39   $353.62
 Choice 1              3.35   $337.20   $349.38   $366.49   $363.81   $351.04
 Select 1             -5.47   $328.38   $340.56   $357.67   $354.99   $342.22
 Stndrd 1-3          -31.49   $302.36   $314.54   $331.65   $328.97   $316.20
 Prime 4              -0.86   $332.99   $345.17   $362.28   $359.60   $346.83
 Choice 4            -12.82   $321.03   $333.21   $350.32   $347.64   $334.87
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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

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