Beef Carcass Price Equivalent

NW_LS410
Des Moines, IA     Mon, May 21, 2012     USDA Market News

USDA BEEF CARCASS PRICE EQUIVALENT INDEX VALUE

                             CHOICE              SELECT
Index                       600-900#            600-900#
 Values =>                    $181.53             $174.01
 Change =>                       3.16                1.89
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Current Index Reflects the Equivalent of 169,615 head of cattle.
SUPPLY (Live)  89,198 Hd
Equivalent:                   $180.47             $173.56
DEMAND (Box)   80,417 Hd*
Equivalent:                   $182.59             $174.47
Live-Box Spread:              ($2.12)             ($0.91)
----------------------------  Input Breakdown   -----------------------------
         National Daily Direct Cattle          :      Boxed Beef Cutouts
        (5 day accumulated wghtd avg)          : Ch 600-900#          $194.59
                  Weight   Price     Head      : Se 600-900#          $186.47
  Live Steer:          1327   $123.19    31,794: Current Lds:           195.5
  Live Heifer:         1191   $123.12    26,840: Previous Lds:          180.1
  Drsd Steer:           866   $194.87    21,215
  Drsd Heifer:          782   $194.66     9,349
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      Grading % Breakdown            :         Drop Credit      :       13.35
 Ch 600-900# :                 72.48%:         Steer Dressing % :      63.82%
 Ch 600-750# :                 25.66%:         Heifer Dressing %:      63.64%
 Ch 750-900# :                 46.83%:         Processing Cost  :       12.00
 Se 600-900# :                 27.52%:         Slaughter Cost   :       50.50
 Se 600-750# :                  8.00%:
 Se 750-900# :                 19.51%:
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 Equivalent Values for Outlying Beef Carcass Types
 Basis Value = 181.53                       Carcass Weights
                             400-500#500-600#  600-900#  900-1000#  1000#/up
 Qlty/Yield      (1)           -28.93    -13.04               -1.70    -21.54
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 Prime 1-3            17.28   $169.88   $185.77   $198.81   $197.11   $177.27
 Certified 1-3         4.82   $157.42   $173.31   $186.35   $184.65   $164.81
 Choice 1              3.38   $155.98   $171.87   $184.91   $183.21   $163.37
 Select 1             -2.98   $149.62   $165.51   $178.55   $176.85   $157.01
 Stndrd 1-3          -20.51   $132.09   $147.98   $161.02   $159.32   $139.48
 Prime 4               4.58   $157.18   $173.07   $186.11   $184.41   $164.57
 Choice 4            -11.38   $141.22   $157.11   $170.15   $168.45   $148.61
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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.LGMN@ams.usda.gov
        24 Hour recorded market information 515-284-4830
        www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/NW_LS410.txt
        www.ams.usda.gov/LSMarketNews

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