Pork packer/processor margins improved last week with the Lean Carcass Value averaging $90.43/cwt. against $91.84/cwt. the previous week. The Pork Cutout was a bit averaged $97.11/cwt. for the week compared to $96.98 the previous week.
At 2,336,100 head, hog numbers going through the plants was down about 110,000 head from a week earlier with utilization averaging 90% for the week. Capacity utilization for the previous was at 94.6%.
Sterling’s estimated packer margin last week averaged $3.44/head while Sterling’s estimated farrow-to-finish margins averaged $51.84/head for the week.
View the full Sterling Pork Profit Tracker for the week ending April 4.
The Beef and Pork Profit Trackers are calculated by Sterling Marketing, Vale, Ore.
(Note: The Sterling Beef Profit Tracker calculates an average beef cutout value for the week in its estimates for feedyard and packer margins. Other prices in the weekly Profit Tracker also are calculated weekly averages. Feedyard margins are calculated on a cash basis only with no adjustment for risk management practices. The Beef and Pork Profit Trackers are intended only as a benchmark for the average cash costs of feeding cattle and hogs. Sterling Marketing is a private, independent beef and pork consulting firm not associated with any packing company or livestock feeding enterprise.)
