Beef Loin, Ball-tip, Bnls, Heavy
USDA Spec
IMPS 2020 §185BIn simple termsThe boneless ball tip, the muscle group at the front of the bottom sirloin. Sold for retail value steaks, kabob-cube programs, and some casual-dining steak programs as a tri-tip alternative. Main muscle: vastus medialis.
Consists of the M. vastus medialis, M. vastus lateralis, and M. rectus femoris (ball tip) from the bottom sirloin butt and/or the anterior portion of a full sirloin tip. M. tensor fasciae latae and M. obliquus abdominis internus separated from the ball tip through the natural seam.
- Weight range
- 1-2+ lb
- Key muscles
- vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, rectus femoris
- Removed
- all bones, cartilages, outside 'skin' tissue
- Primal
- Loin
Last 6 months
Recent prints
| Date | Choice (¢/lb) | Select (¢/lb) | Ch/Se Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-28 | 452.42¢/lb | 511.30¢/lb | -58.88¢/lb |
| 2026-08-27 | 498.08¢/lb | 512.34¢/lb | -14.26¢/lb |
| 2026-08-26 | 508.31¢/lb | 507.46¢/lb | +0.85¢/lb |
| 2026-08-25 | 521.95¢/lb | - | - |
| 2026-08-24 | 506.12¢/lb | - | - |
| 2026-08-21 | 519.40¢/lb | - | - |
| 2026-08-20 | 512.56¢/lb | - | - |
| 2026-08-19 | 517.63¢/lb | 498.40¢/lb | +19.23¢/lb |
| 2026-08-18 | 494.05¢/lb | 475.09¢/lb | +18.96¢/lb |
| 2026-08-17 | 481.51¢/lb | 485.21¢/lb | -3.70¢/lb |
| 2026-08-14 | 480.55¢/lb | - | - |
| 2026-08-13 | 464.66¢/lb | 441.80¢/lb | +22.86¢/lb |
| 2026-08-12 | 460.88¢/lb | 434.76¢/lb | +26.12¢/lb |
| 2026-08-11 | 445.26¢/lb | 450.21¢/lb | -4.95¢/lb |
Frequently asked
What is the current wholesale price of beef loin, ball-tip, bnls, heavy?
$4.52/lb as of 2026-08-28, Choice grade, from the USDA AMS National Daily Boxed Beef Cutout report. That's down 11.7% week over week.
Is loin, ball-tip, bnls, heavy trending up or down?
Down 18.4% over the last six months. Offer side has been in control.
Who sets wholesale loin, ball-tip, bnls, heavy prices?
No single seller sets it. Wholesale beef loin, ball-tip, bnls, heavy 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 loin, ball-tip, bnls, heavy 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 185B mean?
IMPS 185B is the USDA Institutional Meat Purchase Specifications code for Beef Loin, Bottom Sirloin Butt, Ball Tip, Boneless. It's the standard spec used in wholesale trading and procurement contracts.
About this cut
Trimmed muscle from the bottom sirloin butt, near the femur ball joint. Lean and rounded. Often roasted whole or portioned for steaks. Boneless. Heavier weight range within the IMPS portion sizes.
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