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The six-week long rally in fed cattle prices pulled feeding margins to within $20 of breakeven last week, while pork producer margins saw only slight change.

Both cattle and hog finishing operations found profits on closeouts last week with higher prices paid from meat packers.

After a one-week reprieve, cattle feeding margins are back in the red. Pork producers saw a $7 per head improvement, but remain below breakeven.

Both cattle and hog finishing margins improved modestly last week, with cattle slightly above and hogs slightly below breakeven.

A seven-week rally in negotiated cash fed cattle prices has finally lifted average cattle feeding margins to profitability. Pork producer margins remain underwater.

Cattle feeding losses were estimated at $194 per head the week ending July 11, a $60 per head improvement over the previous week, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker.

Both cattle feeding and hog finishing enterprises saw modest profits last week as prices for both continue increasing.

Average feedyard closeouts saw modest profits for cattle last week as cash prices improved. Hog finishing margins declined from near breakeven to a loss of $6 per head.

Cash fed cattle prices ended last week $10 per cwt. lower than last year while the beef cutout closed $16 higher than the same week a year ago. The result? Packer margins $314 per head more than last year.

Average cattle feeding margins improved $20 per head last week, which beef packer margins declined 17%. Farrow-to-finish operations recorded per head losses for the fourth consecutive week.