Beef Carcass Price Equivalent

NW_LS410
Des Moines, IA     Mon, Apr 30, 2012     USDA Market News

USDA BEEF CARCASS PRICE EQUIVALENT INDEX VALUE

                             CHOICE              SELECT
Index                       600-900#            600-900#
 Values =>                    $176.63             $172.12
 Change =>                      -0.58               -0.83
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Current Index Reflects the Equivalent of 138,418 head of cattle.
SUPPLY (Live)  76,729 Hd
Equivalent:                   $174.86             $170.30
DEMAND (Box)   61,689 Hd*
Equivalent:                   $178.40             $173.94
Live-Box Spread:              ($3.54)             ($3.64)
----------------------------  Input Breakdown   -----------------------------
         National Daily Direct Cattle          :      Boxed Beef Cutouts
        (5 day accumulated wghtd avg)          : Ch 600-900#          $190.40
                  Weight   Price     Head      : Se 600-900#          $185.94
  Live Steer:          1309   $119.83    30,557: Current Lds:           152.9
  Live Heifer:         1200   $119.86    28,110: Previous Lds:          149.3
  Drsd Steer:           873   $193.25    11,990
  Drsd Heifer:          814   $192.33     6,072
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      Grading % Breakdown            :         Drop Credit      :       13.72
 Ch 600-900# :                 73.94%:         Steer Dressing % :      63.75%
 Ch 600-750# :                 25.15%:         Heifer Dressing %:      63.67%
 Ch 750-900# :                 48.79%:         Processing Cost  :       12.00
 Se 600-900# :                 26.06%:         Slaughter Cost   :       50.50
 Se 600-750# :                  6.13%:
 Se 750-900# :                 19.93%:
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 Equivalent Values for Outlying Beef Carcass Types
 Basis Value = 176.63                       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            16.78   $164.48   $180.37   $193.41   $191.71   $171.87
 Certified 1-3         4.32   $152.02   $167.91   $180.95   $179.25   $159.41
 Choice 1              3.38   $151.08   $166.97   $180.01   $178.31   $158.47
 Select 1             -0.62   $147.08   $162.97   $176.01   $174.31   $154.47
 Stndrd 1-3          -19.10   $128.60   $144.49   $157.53   $155.83   $135.99
 Prime 4               4.08   $151.78   $167.67   $180.71   $179.01   $159.17
 Choice 4            -11.38   $136.32   $152.21   $165.25   $163.55   $143.71
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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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