Farrow-to-finish margins were down another $10/head last week as the W. Cornbelt Lean Carcass Value averaged $91.70/cwt. for the week against the prior week’s average of $95.89/cwt. Sterling’s calculated estimate for the margin was $50.41/head last week compared to $60.89/head a week earlier.
The Pork Cutout averaged $97.98/cwt., down from the prior week’s average of $100.45/cwt. However, the lower lean carcass value compensated and supported packer margins with Sterling’s calculated average at $3.77/head, certainly an improvement from the prior weeks. Plant utilization averaged 89.1% for the week.
View the full Sterling Pork Profit Tracker for the week ending Aug. 22.
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.)
