Farrow-to-finish margins last week remained steady with the prior week with the estimated margin averaging $50.88/head compared to $39.85/head a year ago as lean carcass values moved higher with the W. Corn Belt price averaging $93.43/cwt.
Total feed costs for those market hogs averaged $79 compared to $ 86 a year ago. Hogs placed on the finishing floor last week will have an average feed cost of $75.
Pork packers, having a higher hog cost, continue to face negative margins.
View the full Sterling Pork Profit Tracker for the week ending May 10.
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.)
