In recent weeks, the number of carcasses presented for grading has shown Prime and Choice graded carcass percentages lose ground in favor of Select-graded carcasses. The decline is not all that atypical as dressed weights for fed cattle lighten during the summer months, and higher grading percentages tend to correlate with higher dressed weights. What has been unusual this year is the price spread between Choice and Select.
The Choice-Select price spread has been larger than last year and the five-year average for most of this year, ranging from about $10 to over $30 per cwt. Seasonally,…
