Farrow-to-finish margins were a bit lower last week, averaging $61.18/head, with the W. Cornbelt Negotiated Lean Carcass Value averaging $95.89/cwt. for the week against $99.04/cwt. the prior week.
Packers saw a bit of relief and were about breakeven for the week averaging $.33/head compared to Sterling’s estimate of -$6.25 the prior week.
The Pork Cutout last week was nearly unchanged from the prior week averaging $100.45/cwt. Market hog slaughter was 2,275,650 leaving Sterling’s estimate of plant utilization at 87.9%.
View the full Sterling Pork Profit Tracker for the week ending Aug. 15.
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.)
