The USDA Choice boxed beef cutout averaged $374.70 per cwt for the week ending October 16, 2026, down $1.50 from the prior week, while the Select cutout fell 64 cents to $354.39. The Choice-Select spread held at $20.31, reflecting continued grade differentiation in negotiated sales.

Total negotiated boxed beef volume reached 541 loads (21.6 million pounds) for the week, with Choice cuts accounting for 372.32 loads or 14.9 million pounds. Select cuts totaled 54.31 loads (2.17 million pounds), while trimmings and ground beef contributed 43.68 loads and 70.94 loads, respectively. Daily cutout values showed limited volatility across the week — Choice ranged from $372.31 to $376.50, while Select moved between $352.62 and $358.47.

Primal values displayed mixed movement. The Choice rib primal commanded $672.39 per cwt, substantially outpacing Select rib at $577.77 — a spread of nearly $95. Choice loin priced at $457.02 versus $421.83 for Select. In the middle meats, ribeye cuts showed particular strength: bone-in lip-on ribeyes (109E) averaged $1,385.06 per cwt for Choice on 114 trades totaling 1.24 million pounds, while heavy boneless ribeyes (112A) averaged $1,530.82 across 98 trades. Strip loins remained firm, with Choice boneless product (180) averaging $956.81 per cwt on 177 trades covering 824,799 pounds.

Round primals traded nearly even between grades — Choice at $295.67 and Select at $297.37, one of the few instances where Select pricing exceeded Choice. Chuck primals settled at $334.87 for Choice and $326.84 for Select. Ground beef showed typical grade premiums: 81-percent lean averaged $341.54 per cwt across 136 Choice trades (1.19 million pounds), while 85-percent lean reached $405.32. Fresh 50-percent lean trimmings ranged from $65.96 to $114.75 per cwt, averaging $89.06 on 69 trades totaling 1.75 million pounds.

The modest week-over-week decline in both cutouts suggests steady demand against available supply. Trade volume favored Choice product by a 7-to-1 margin in cut weight, consistent with typical processor mix.

[Source: USDA LM_XB459 — October 16, 2026]