Pork Business
Profitability for both cattle and hog producers has been losing steam for the past month, but things could be a lot worse.
Profits jumped higher on a $4 per cwt. advance in cash prices despite a $6 per head increase in feed costs, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker.
Cattle feeding margins increased $10 per head last week as cash cattle prices improved, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker.
Cattle feeding margins increased $50 per head last week as cash cattle prices improved $5 per cwt.
Despite the decline in feeding margins, feedyard profits remain above $186 per head.
Record cash fed cattle prices last week at $171 - $172 per cwt. boosted cattle feeding margins $22 per head, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker.
Cattle feeding margins declined $52 per head last week despite steady cash prices.
Cattle feeders saw profits climb to $213 per head after slipping to $175 per head the week before.
Profit margins declined just $4 per head last week, but are $9 per head higher than a month ago, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker.
Beef packers saw modest improvement to their long-running negative margins.
Last week, when cash cattle traded at $173 to $174 per cwt., average feedyard margins dropped to $132 per head, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker.
Cattle feeding margins nose-dived $100 per head last week, settling at $45 per head, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker.
Beef packers put away the red ink last week as they turned modest profits on every animal processed. Feedyard margins, however, slipped a little further away from positive.
Cash cattle prices dipped nearly 50 cents per cwt.
Whether you’re cattle feeder or packer, ledger sheets are full of red ink.
Cattle feeding margins declined $45 per head last week, leaving average per head losses at more than $77.
Cattle feeding margins improved nearly $25 per head last week, but average per head losses remain more than $32.
Live cattle sales averaged $4 per hundredweight higher last week with relatively steady total feeding costs, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker.
The pain eased somewhat for cattle feeders last week, but losses remain more than $170 per head.
It was another ugly week for cattle feeders.
Cattle feeders added a little powder and lipstick to closeouts this week, but the ugly continues to shine through.
Cattle feeding margins took another turn south last week after a nearly $4 per cwt. decline in fed cattle prices.
Cattle feeding margins took another tumble last week after a $1 per cwt. decline in fed cattle prices.
Cattle feeding margins declined nearly $53 per head last week, leaving average losses at $56 per head.
The financial pain of feeding cattle eased again last week, but losses remain more than $125 per head.
The pain eased somewhat for cattle feeders last week, but losses remain more than $97 per head.
Last week saw dramatic improvement in cattle feeding margins, yet triple-digit losses remain.
A $6 per head decline in cattle feeding margins is tolerable, unless you were already losing $112.
Cattle feeding margins took two steps back last week as cash cattle prices hover around what producers hope are the summer lows.
Cattle feeders and beef packers are hoping the price lows are in for the summer as both operated at a loss last week.