Pork industry margins last week remained close to the prior week with farrow-to-finish margins gaining just over $1/head compared to average $65.36/head. The W. Cornbelt Lean Carcass Value was higher averaging $95.09/cwt. for the week against $93.87/cwt. the prior week.
Feed costs for hogs placed last week dropped about $4/head to average $75.51 compared to $79.45/head the prior week. Packers realized a reduced margin last week with the higher price paid for hogs with Sterling estimated average for the week at about breakeven compared to $1.14/head the prior week. Capacity utilization in the plants went back up to 91.3% from the 80.4% during the holiday-shorted week.
View the full Sterling Pork Profit Tracker for the week ending June 6.
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.)
