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With cash fed cattle prices tumbling $6 per cwt. last week an increase in cattle feeding losses was certain.

It’s been a rough fall for cattle feeders, but cowboys found some signs last week that suggest the worst may be behind them.

Cattle feeders hope the cash market found its bottom last week.

Last week’s $2.50 rally in the cash market was another step in the right direction, but closeouts remain $26.46 per cwt. short of break even.

The adjectives have all been used to describe the despair that is cattle feeding. Last week was simply worse than the week before, which was a train wreck.

Calculated breakeven prices for cattle shipped from feedyards last week were $170.12, according to Sterling Marketing, Vale, Ore.

Uncharted territory. That’s where America’s cattle feeding industry finds itself as fed cattle lose $611 per head.

Another miserable week left many in the cattle feeding business on the brink of financial ruin.

The crisis continues for America’s cattle feeders.

A $6-plus per cwt. gain in cash cattle prices produced a 20% improvement in feeding margins.