Farrow-to-finish hog producers found profits of $38 per head last week, down $37 per head from the previous week but up $13 per head (21%) from last year, according to the Sterling Profit Tracker. Lean carcass prices averaged $109.38 per cwt., down $18 per cwt. from the previous week but up $13 from last year (14%).
Pork packers saw losses of an estimated $23 per head, which is $28 less than last week’s losses, and with the previous week but $40 less than the $17 profit per head from last year. Hog slaughter was estimated at 2.350 million head, down 55,000 head from the previous week and down 44,000 head (2%) from last year.
Pork packer capacity utilization was estimated at 87.3% compared to 88.8% the previous week and 89.0% last year.
The Pork and Beef Profit Trackers are calculated by Sterling Marketing, Vale, Oregon.
