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A decline of $5 per cwt in cash fed cattle prices pushed cattle feeding margins $60 per head lower, leaving losses at $120 per head, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker.

Cattle feeding profit margins retreat further with a weaker cash market and limited packer interest.

Cash cattle prices were mostly steady last week, helping reduce cattle feeding losses by $46 per head. Packers maintain their leverage with profits at $275.

Average cattle feeding losses totaled $106 per head for the week ending June 21.

Cattle feeders turned a tidy profit last week despite a $2 retreat in cash cattle prices.

Easter week produced a $3 per cwt. decline in fed cattle prices and a $73 erosion in cattle feeding margins.

Feedyards are as close to breaking even on a cash basis as they’ve been during any point in the past 18 months.

Cattle feeders finally found profitability last week after cattle markets posted a $6 to $7 per cwt. rally.

Cattle feeding margins gained only modestly, despite the fact feeder cattle factored into closeouts were $40 per head less than the previous week.

Cattle feeders generally expected margins to be much better by now. An anticipated spring rally that could have erased a lot of red ink has failed to materialize, leaving feedyard closeouts stuck in neutral with near $200 losses.