LUBBOCK, TX (RFD NEWS) — The Choice-Select spread is sending a different signal this spring as Select beef becomes unusually scarce. Paul Dykstra with Certified Angus Beef says Select carcasses have fallen from 12 percent of the fed cattle mix in December to about 8 percent since February.
That tight Select supply has kept the Choice premium unusually narrow, and at times Select has traded above Choice.
Dykstra says the shift reflects the rapid decline in Select carcasses as the industry continues producing more high-quality beef.
That is a positive long-term sign for consumer demand. More cattle are grading Choice, Premium Choice, or higher, showing the beef sector has responded to shoppers who want better eating quality.
The challenge is lean beef availability. Smaller cull cow harvest and fewer Select carcasses tighten supplies of lean end meats and trim, supporting imports and higher lean beef values.
CAB cutout values remain within expectations, averaging $17.63 above USDA Choice since January.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Higher quality grading supports beef demand, but tight Select and lean trim supplies are reshaping price spreads.
Tony St. James, RFD News Markets Specialist
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