NW_LS410
Des Moines, IA     Fri, Jul 25, 2008     USDA Market News

USDA BEEF CARCASS PRICE EQUIVALENT INDEX VALUE

                             CHOICE              SELECT
Index                       600-900#            600-900#
 Values =>                  $145.46             $138.59
 Change =>                   -1.69               -2.25
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Current Index Reflects the Equivalent of 121,330 head of cattle.
SUPPLY (Live)  8,853 Hd
Equivalent:                   $144.42             $136.62
DEMAND (Box)   112,477 Hd*
Equivalent:                   $146.50             $140.57
Live-Box Spread:              ($2.08)             ($3.95)
----------------------------  Input Breakdown   -----------------------------
         National Daily Direct Cattle          :      Boxed Beef Cutouts
        (5 day accumulated wghtd avg)          : Ch 600-900#          $158.50
                  Weight       Price      Head : Se 600-900#          $152.57
  Live Steer:          1307    $96.06     2,917: Current Lds:           414.9
  Live Heifer:         1181    $94.81       710: Previous Lds:          336.9
  Drsd Steer:           855   $151.24     4,228
  Drsd Heifer:          777   $151.74       998
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      Grading % Breakdown                :     Drop Credit      :       11.87
 Ch 600-900# :                 68.88%    :     Steer Dressing % :      63.32%
 Ch 600-750# :                 24.76%    :     Heifer Dressing %:      63.24%
 Ch 750-900# :                 44.12%    :     Processing Cost  :       12.00
 Se 600-900# :                 31.12%    :     Slaughter Cost   :       50.50
 Se 600-750# :                  9.75%    :
 Se 750-900# :                 21.38%    :
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 Equivalent Values for Outlying Beef Carcass Types
 Basis Value = 145.46                       Carcass Weights
                             400-500# 500-600#  600-900# 900-1000#  1000#/up
 Qlty/Yield      (1)           -25.50     -9.60      0.00     -2.59    -20.00
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 Prime 1-3            13.26   $133.22   $149.12   $158.72   $156.13   $138.72
 Certified 1-3         4.32   $124.28   $140.18   $149.78   $147.19   $129.78
 Choice 1              2.75   $122.71   $138.61   $148.21   $145.62   $128.21
 Select 1             -4.54   $115.42   $131.32   $140.92   $138.33   $120.92
 Stndrd 1-3          -16.33   $103.63   $119.53   $129.13   $126.54   $109.13
 Prime 4              -1.65   $118.31   $134.21   $143.81   $141.22   $123.81
 Choice 4            -13.92   $106.04   $121.94   $131.54   $128.95   $111.54
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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, Des Moines, IA
                 Phone: 515-284-4460   email: desm.lgmn@usda.gov
                 24 Hour recorded market information 515-284-4830
                 www.ams.usda.gov/LSMarketNews
1545C     KDC



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