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

Most analysts expected feedyards to be near breakeven by the time the calendar turned to May. May is here and the underperforming cash fed cattle market has kept feedyards struggling.

Feedyard margins improved last week despite a $3 per cwt. decline in cash cattle prices.

Cattle feeders turned a tidy profit for the second consecutive week.

Last week’s $3 per cwt rally in cash fed cattle prices pulled feeding margins out of the red and cut beef packer profit margins by 20%.

Last week’s $2 per cwt. decline in cash cattle prices left feedyard margins at near breakeven levels.

Feedyard profit margins rebounded slightly after last week’s $2 rally in the cash fed cattle market.

Leverage shifting from feedyards to packers as summer begins.

The Sterling Beef Profit Tracker reports average cattle feeding closeouts were in the black last week, but with little room to spare.