Beef Cap and Wedge Meat
USDA Spec
IMPS 2020 §109BIn simple termsBlade meat, also called lifter or cap and wedge meat, peeled off the top of the primal rib above and below the blade bone. Sold into grind, fajita meat, and value foodservice programs. A trim-grade byproduct of fabricating prime rib roasts. Main muscle: subscapularis.
Muscles immediately below (M. subscapularis, M. rhomboideus) and above (M. latissimus dorsi, M. infraspinatus, M. trapezius) the blade bone and cartilage of the primal rib. Trimmed practically free of fat.
- Weight range
- 2-up lb
- Key muscles
- subscapularis, rhomboideus, latissimus dorsi, infraspinatus, trapezius
- Removed
- all bones and cartilages
- Primal
- Rib
Last 6 months
Recent prints
| Date | Choice (¢/lb) | Select (¢/lb) | Ch/Se Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-13 | 459.48¢/lb | 459.48¢/lb | +0.00¢/lb |
| 2026-10-12 | 462.33¢/lb | 462.33¢/lb | +0.00¢/lb |
| 2026-10-09 | 455.61¢/lb | 455.61¢/lb | +0.00¢/lb |
| 2026-10-08 | 457.29¢/lb | 457.29¢/lb | +0.00¢/lb |
| 2026-10-07 | 465.20¢/lb | 465.20¢/lb | +0.00¢/lb |
| 2026-10-06 | 467.09¢/lb | 467.09¢/lb | +0.00¢/lb |
| 2026-10-05 | 479.69¢/lb | 479.69¢/lb | +0.00¢/lb |
| 2026-10-02 | 450.60¢/lb | 450.60¢/lb | +0.00¢/lb |
| 2026-10-01 | 447.53¢/lb | 447.53¢/lb | +0.00¢/lb |
| 2026-09-30 | 459.96¢/lb | 459.96¢/lb | +0.00¢/lb |
| 2026-09-29 | 452.20¢/lb | 452.20¢/lb | +0.00¢/lb |
| 2026-09-28 | 472.34¢/lb | 472.34¢/lb | +0.00¢/lb |
| 2026-09-25 | 465.97¢/lb | 465.97¢/lb | +0.00¢/lb |
| 2026-09-24 | 472.58¢/lb | 472.58¢/lb | +0.00¢/lb |
Frequently asked
What is the current wholesale price of beef cap and wedge meat?
459.48¢/lb as of 2026-10-13, Choice grade, from the USDA AMS National Daily Boxed Beef Cutout report. That's down 1.6% week over week.
Is cap and wedge meat trending up or down?
Down 6.7% over the last six months. Offer side has been in control.
Who sets wholesale cap and wedge meat prices?
No single seller sets it. Wholesale beef cap and wedge meat is priced FOB plant in cents per pound and reported daily by USDA AMS as part of the National Daily Boxed Beef Cutout, Negotiated Sales (LM_XB403) report. Prices reflect weighted-average negotiated trades for delivery within 0-21 days.
When does demand for cap and wedge meat run hottest?
Middle meats carry the summer grilling holidays and the December feature window. Retail and foodservice programs commit weeks ahead of those dates, so the wholesale pull arrives before the holiday itself.
What does IMPS 109B mean?
IMPS 109B is the USDA Institutional Meat Purchase Specifications code for Beef Rib, Blade Meat. It's the standard spec used in wholesale trading and procurement contracts.
About this cut
Lifter meat: the cap and wedge muscles lifted off the outside of the rib when the ribeye is fabricated. Lean manufacturing meat that feeds grind and thin-sliced programs, priced off the trim ladder rather than the ribeye.
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