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

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.

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%.

A mid-July rally across all regions lifted feedyard margins out of the red for the week ending July 13, and cut into the extreme profit margins packers have enjoyed most of the year.

Cattle feeding margins improved last week after a $1 boost to cash fed cattle prices.

Cash cattle prices held steady during the week ended August 2, but cattle feeding margins improved $12 per head.

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

As expected, beef packer margins jumped wildly higher the week ending Aug. 17, while cattle feeding margins slipped into the red.

Cattle feeding margins slipped further into the red last week on soft cash prices, while packer margins climbed to extreme heights.

Pork producer margins dropped $15 per head last week due to a $7.59 per cwt. decline in lean carcass prices.