Cattle Contracts Library – Packer Form General Information 

Agricultural Marketing Service 

Livestock, Poultry, and Grain Market News January 26, 2023 

Email us with accessibility issues with this report. 

Packers subject to the Cattle Contracts Library Pilot Program must submit contract and volume information to AMS 

via a series of entry forms. 

The 5 forms are as follows: 

• Main Form

• Base Price Form

• Spec Form

• Premium and Discount (PD) Form

• Volume Form

The following document details the required entry fields found in each of the 5 forms. 

* Indicates required field.

1) Main Form

Field Values Description 

Reporting Date* XX/XX/XXXX Date of submission 

Company* Packer Name 

Contract ID* A unique code chosen by the packer for the contract, specific to the 

contract, and utilized and trackable through the life of the contract. 

Contract Method* The way in which the contract was established, either written or verbal. 

Contract Status* 

Active A contract that is currently available between a packer and producer 

under which fed cattle may be purchased. 

Inactive A contract that is no longer available between a packer and producer for 

purchase under, or one that is not currently in use. 

Contract Start Date* XX/XX/XXXX Must be included 

Contract End Date XX/XX/XXXX Included if known 

Source: USDA AMS Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News 

Washington, DC | (202) 690-3145 | wash.LPGMN@usda.gov 

Page 1 of 5

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Cattle Contracts Library – Packer Form General Information 

Agricultural Marketing Service 

Livestock, Poultry, and Grain Market News January 26, 2023 

Email us with accessibility issues with this report. 

2) Base Price Form

Field Values Description 

Base Price Option ID* 

Unique ID utilized to determine different pricing 

options within the contract. 

Base Price Source* 

Plant Average 

USDA Report 

Subscription Based 

Negotiated 

CME 

Top of Market 

Other 

USDA Report XXXX Slug ID of USDA Report Referenced 

Base Price Adjustment Type* 

NA 

Fixed 

Calculated 

Negotiated 

Base Price Adjustment Value* $XXX.XX 

Premium/Discounts Applied?* Yes 

No 

Class Code* 

Mixed Steer/Heifer 

Steer 

Heifer 

Dairybred Steer/Heifer 

Mixed Steer/Heifer/Cow 

Selling Basis* 

Live Live – sold on a live basis 

Dressed – sold on a dressed basis 

Live Converted – live price converted to dressed price 

Dressed Converted – dressed price converted to a 

live price 

Dressed 

Live Converted 

Dressed Converted 

Selling Basis Shipment* 

FOB FOB – Packer pays freight 

Delivered – Producer pays freight 

Mixed – shared freight cost 

Delivered 

Mixed 

Selling Basis Yield Conversion XX.XX%

Dressing percentage used in Live or Dressed 

conversion. 

Source: USDA AMS Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News 

Washington, DC | (202) 690-3145 | wash.LPGMN@usda.gov 

Page 2 of 5

https://www.ams.usda.gov/LPSMarketNewsPage 

https://mymarketnews.ams.usda.gov/ | 
 

 

 

 

Cattle Contracts Library – Packer Form General Information 

Agricultural Marketing Service 

Livestock, Poultry, and Grain Market News January 26, 2023 

Email us with accessibility issues with this report. 

3) Spec Form

a) Each Spec Type is marked with a Yes or No depending on its use in the contract.

Field Values Description 

Spec Type* 

Quality 

Yield Grade 

Weight 

Dressing Percent 

Shrink 

< 30 Months 

Branded 

Packer Financing 

Risk Management 

Breed 

Source Verified 

Export Certification 

Volume Threshold 

Starter Cattle 

Shutdown Provision 

Floor Payment 

Premium (Max) 

Discount (Max) 

Same Day Payment 

Non Conforming Penalty 

Supply Relationship 

Profit Sharing 

Other (1-10) 

Spec Used?* Yes 

No 

Spec Notes Details of each spec used. 

Source: USDA AMS Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News 

Washington, DC | (202) 690-3145 | wash.LPGMN@usda.gov 

Page 3 of 5

https://www.ams.usda.gov/LPSMarketNewsPage 

https://mymarketnews.ams.usda.gov/ | 
 

 

Cattle Contracts Library – Packer Form General Information 

Agricultural Marketing Service 

Livestock, Poultry, and Grain Market News January 26, 2023 

Email us with accessibility issues with this report. 

4) Premium and Discount (PD) Form

a) A value and price unit are provided for each PD Type and Category combination.

Source: USDA AMS Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News 

Washington, DC | (202) 690-3145 | wash.LPGMN@usda.gov 

https://www.ams.usda.gov/LPSMarketNewsPage 

https://mymarketnews.ams.usda.gov/ | 

Page 4 of 5

PD Type* PD Category* PD Value* PD Price Unit* 

Yield Grade 

1 $XXX.XX Per Head 

2 Per CWT 

3 

4 

5 

Other 

Quality 

Prime 

Choice (Over Ch Spec) 

Choice (Upper 2/3) 

Choice 

Select 

Select (Under Ch Spec) 

Standard 

No Roll 

Dark Cutter 

Lean 

Boner 

Breaker 

Premium White 

Dairy Type 

Bullock/Stag 

Beef/Dairy Cross 

Heiferette 

Hardbone 

Over 30 mo. 

Other 

Weight 

Lightweight 1 

Lightweight 2 

Heavyweight 1 

Heavyweight 2 
 

 

 

 

Cattle Contracts Library – Packer Form General Information 

Agricultural Marketing Service 

Livestock, Poultry, and Grain Market News January 26, 2023 

Email us with accessibility issues with this report. 

Other 

Class 

Steers 

Heifers 

Dairy Steers 

Dairy Heifers 

Other 

Branded 

CAB 

Other 

Other 

Management Program 

All Natural 

NHTC 

GAP 

Other 

Other 

Foreign Born 

Beta Agonist Free 

Supplier Relationship 

Other (1-5) 

5) Volume Form

Field Value Description 

Volume Category* 

Estimate* An estimated volume to be purchased under all base price source 

options in each contract in the current month. 

Actual* The actual volume of cattle purchased under each contract in the 

prior month reported by base price source. 

Base Price Source* (Refer to Base Price Entry) 

Volume Month* Calendar Month 

Volume* XX,XXX 

Source: USDA AMS Livestock, Poultry & Grain Market News 

Washington, DC | (202) 690-3145 | wash.LPGMN@usda.gov 

Page 5 of 5

https://www.ams.usda.gov/LPSMarketNewsPage 

https://mymarketnews.ams.usda.gov/ |