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Pigs Don't Fly: Feral Hog Spread Is A Man-Made Mess

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 21:10:39 GMT

Hidden inside covered trailers or hauled in plain sight under the cover of darkness, wild pigs are on the move. Even trussed in car trunks, stuffed in dog boxes, stretched across back seats, or openly sold on Facebook, wild pigs often march to a man-made beat. Bottom line: The spread of 6.3 million wild pigs across the United States is assisted by rubber tires.

Illegal transport is a major cause of increased wild pig presence, an advance which contributes to an annual multi-billion dollar bill. Wild pigs cause up to $2.5 billion in damage to the U.S. economy each year and $1 billion of the total is exclusive to agriculture. Based on anecdotes and observation, wildlife personnel have long suspected illegal transport as a major catalyst of wild pig dispersal. Through advances in genetic technology, intuition is being confirmed with hard evidence: The most reproductively capable large animal in North America is hitching a human ride.

Wild pig expansion over the past 30 years has jumped from 19 states in 1985 to 39 states in 2016. Consistently on the cusp of a population explosion, sows typically deliver two litters in approximately 15 months. (However, sows are physiologically capable of producing two litters per year.) Females are able to reproduce as early as four months, fueling the multiplier effect.

Prolific breeding (combined with exceptional intelligence and phenomenal adaptability) requires the annual culling of 50 percent to 75 percent of a pig population to keep numbers in check, a control rate that’s often impossible to achieve. Jack Mayer, manager of the Environmental Sciences and Biotechnology Group at the Savannah River National Laboratory in Aiken, S.C., places the approximate U.S. wild pig population at 6.3 million, with an overall estimate ranging between 4.4 million to 11.3 million.

Prolific breeding requires the annual culling of 50 percent to 75 percent of a pig population to keep population numbers in check, a control rate that’s often impossible to achieve.

© IDNR Outdoor Indiana

Hogs or Big Bucks?

Wild pigs have a historical presence in the South, but consistently began popping up on Midwest wildlife radars in the early 1990s due to illegal transport. Steve Backs, a wildlife biologist with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), says the Midwest wild pig population is attributable to intentional sport releases and pen escapes.

Indiana’s current wild pig presence is limited to several counties, a population Backs attributes to a single probable source. According to Backs, in the mid-1990s, a resident of Louisiana used wild pigs as a cover to poach Indiana deer: “This guy would haul in wild hogs and release them. He’d hunt deer in the same location at night and when approached, he’d claim he was hunting hogs.”

“The rumor was he was killing Midwest deer and entering them in big buck contests in the South. We couldn’t catch him releasing the hogs, but we knew what was going on.”

Backs believes the suspect released over 60 wild pigs, a number easily capable of sparking a population explosion. “There were others doing the same thing and there was no coordinated effort, but the initial surge of hogs was likely due to his efforts,” Backs recalls.

Steve Backs inspects wild pig depredation in corn. Wild pigs cause up to $2.5 billion in damage to the U.S. economy each year and $1 billion of the total is exclusive to agriculture.

© IDNR Outdoor Indiana

Indiana authorities were eventually able to make a deer poaching-related arrest. “I knew who the SOB was for a decade. He was literally releasing hogs where I personally hunt. Circumstantial evidence shows he also was killing big deer and taking hogs into other Midwest states. There were Illinois counties with big deer that all of a sudden had wild hogs.”

Backs is chairman of the Feral Swine Committee for the Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (MAFWA), which includes representation from nine U.S. states and two Canadian provinces, and operates as an information exchange. In addition, Backs serves on the National Wild Pig Task Force, which is composed of representatives from state level organizations, universities and government agencies.

Backs describes wild pigs as “God’s perfect survival animals,” but says the hunting allure is ultimately a devil’s bargain. Wild pig presence translates to habitat loss for other animals, including deer: “We’re talking about cockroaches on hooves. We want to educate the public and remove the hunting incentive. When hogs show up, deer leave.”

Backs admits some Indiana landowners continue to foster wild pig populations for hunting purposes. Under Indiana livestock laws, a landowner is responsible for livestock damage to a neighbor’s crops, according to Backs. “It’s probably just a matter of time before an impacted farmer takes a neighbor, who continues to harbor wild pigs on their land, to court. If you want wild pigs on your property and don’t want to cooperate with removal, you may wind up before a judge in a civil suit.”

Wild Pig Detective

Hot on the trail of wild pig movement, Bronson Strickland is cooperating with scientists using genetic testing to prove that adjacent populations are often unrelated. Strickland, a wildlife biologist and wildlife management specialist with Mississippi State University Extension , says illegal releases occur under the radar, but technology is revealing the physical proof of unrelated sounders stretching from Florida to California.

Still in the rudimentary stages of testing, genetic technology is documenting the unnatural spread of pigs, according to Strickland: “We’re beginning to see concrete proof of what we’ve believed for a long time. Populations don’t just spring up overnight in Midwest states like Illinois or Ohio.”

Wildlife biologist Bronson Strickland, left, and graduate student Clay Gibson with six wild pigs gps-collared for field research.

© Mississippi State University Extension

Natural colonization of wild pigs is a slow spread that resembles rose petal layering as adjacent populations overlap. “Scientifically, when a group of pigs has unique genetics, it tells me they shouldn’t be in that location unless illegal transport is involved,” he says.

Strickland has watched the wild pig population explode in Mississippi. In the 1980s, roughly 5% of Mississippi’s land area had wild pigs. As of 2017, at least 50% of Mississippi land has wild pigs with a sustained wild pig presence translating to a total population of over 200,000.

Outlaws

Who are the people physically trapping, transporting and releasing the pigs? Strickland points to a small group of outlaw hunters: “I’m not lumping anybody in because it’s a very small group engaging in illegal releases. These people want pigs in every county like we have deer in every county. It’s totally destructive.”

Yet, a few outlaws can ramp up an entire population of wild pigs. “They sneak pigs into a new area and those pigs quickly out-compete many of the native wildlife species we cherish,” he adds.

A few outlaws can ramp up an entire population of wild pigs. “They sneak pigs into a new area and those pigs quickly out-compete many of the native wildlife species we cherish,” Strickland says.

© IDNR Outdoor Indiana

With no obvious signature, the outlaws typically move at night or use covered trailers. “Everyone should take this very seriously. If you see hogs on your property or trail camera, take action or risk an unmanageable situation. If you see anything suspicious regarding transport, call the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks (MDWFP) so they can investigate,” Strickland advises.

Facebook Smugglers

On March 29, 2017, MDWFP agents raided a location in Walthall County related to wild pig activity. A ring of four individuals was trapping wild pigs in Louisiana, transporting them to a holding pen in Mississippi, and brazenly selling them on Facebook, according to Major Lane Ball, south region administrator at MDWFP. With online convenience, buyers made contact and arrived with trailers to illegally transport wild pigs beyond Walthall County. It was an unusual incident involving social media and illegal transport, but it offered a clear window into the pace and underground nature of wild pig dispersal. (There have been other significant wild pig transport arrests in Alabama, Kentucky and Tennessee.)

“We were able to stop these people, but we can’t tell how long they had been operating and how many other similar operations are out there,” Ball explains. “We aggressively pursuit illegal transport because these hogs are an unreal problem and there is no easy answer. Other than us, they have no predators and have free reign.”

Hog-dog hunting is tremendously popular in the South and fuels the illegal behavior of a tiny minority, Ball stresses: “The vast majority of hunters do it right and are great people. The simple fact is there are always some bad apples to spoil the whole bunch.”

Nationwide, more states are employing genetic profiles to monitor wild pig outbreaks. IDNR uses a genetic database to store wild pig DNA. As Backs and his team of wildlife specialists get farther down the wild pig removal trail, they’ll be able to detect whether new sounders originate in Indiana or out of state. In some cases, they may be able to trace new arrivals to a specific point of origin.

Precision wild pig damage to a soybean field. Wild pig expansion over the past 30 years has jumped from 19 states in 1985 to 39 states in 2016.

© Mississippi State University Extension

Again, 6.3 million wild pigs and possibly $2.5 billion in damage ($1 billion directly to agriculture) attest to the dire consequences of illegal wild pig transport. “Pigs don’t fly and we know how they’re getting here. We don’t have a hog hunting tradition yet and we don’t want one,” Backs adds. “Our Midwest pig problems are relatively small and we want to keep them that way.”

Profit Tracker: Beef, Pork Higher Again

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 19:17:04 GMT

Profits continue to increase for both cattle and hog producers. Cattle feeders recorded average profits of $247 per head last week, up slightly from the previous week, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker . The margins represent a $363 per head improvement over the average losses of $116 recorded last year at this time, according to estimates developed by John Nalivka, president of Sterling Marketing, Vale, Ore.

Beef cutout values increased $1 per cwt. last week, but beef packer margins declined $9.35 to $67 per head. A month ago packers were losing $81 on every animal processed, and losses totaled $19 per head at the same time last year.

Farrow-to-finish hog margins increased $18.90 per head to more than $103 per head, the highest pork profit margins in the Sterling Pork Profit Tracker database. Negotiated cash hog prices rallied $11 per cwt. to $125.25 per cwt. Pork packer margins were estimated at $3.66 per head.

The spike in both cattle feeding and farrow-to-finish profits is due to significantly higher cash prices and lower overall feed prices. Cash prices for fed cattle are more than $27 per cwt. higher than last year, and negotiated hog prices are nearly $51 per cwt. higher than last year.

Profit Tracker: Feedyard Margins Dip $31 Per Head

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 19:17:04 GMT

Cattle feeding margins dipped more than $31 per head lower last week to average $157. The loss in profitability was due to an average $1.86 per cwt. decrease in cash cattle prices, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker .

Profit margins for pork producers dropped $3.08 per head last week to $72.59 per head. The decrease was tied to a $0.22 per cwt. loss in negotiated cash prices. Both beef and pork margins are calculated by John Nalivka, president, Sterling Marketing, Vale, Ore.

Cattle feeders’ profits last week were $271 per head more than at the same time last year when $114 per head losses were recorded. Beef cutout values remained steady with a slight increase, and packer margins increased $67.41 per head, leaving packers with per head gains of $20.89. A week ago packers recorded losses of $46 on every animal processed, while profits totaled $93 per head at the same time last year.

Farrow-to-finish hog margins posted a loss from last week, and are now more than $14.50 per head less than last month. Pork packers saw their margins increase slightly last week, with the average at $1.85 in the profit column for every animal processed.

The spike in both cattle feeding and farrow-to-finish profits this spring is due to significantly higher cash prices and lower overall feed prices. Cash prices for fed cattle are nearly $21 per cwt. higher than last year, and negotiated hog prices are $19 per cwt. higher than last year.

Profit Tracker: Feedyard Margins Top $200 Per Head

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 19:17:04 GMT

Cattle feeding margins jumped nearly $20 per head higher last week to average $216. The increase in profitability was due to an average $0.42 per cwt. increase in cash cattle prices and a decline in total feed costs for the calculated feeding period, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker .

Profit margins for pork producers rose $4.97 per head last week to $80.60 per head. The increase was tied to a $0.35 per cwt. improvement in negotiated cash prices. Both beef and pork margins are calculated by John Nalivka, president, Sterling Marketing, Vale, Ore.

Cattle feeders’ profits last week were $319 per head more than at the same time last year when $103 per head losses were recorded. Beef cutout values declined nearly $6 per cwt. last week, and packer margins declined $64 per head, leaving packers with per head losses of $47. A month ago packers recorded losses of $63 on every animal processed, while profits totaled $15 per head at the same time last year.

Farrow-to-finish hog margins posted the first gain in several weeks, and are now about $20 per head less than last month. Pork packers saw their margins decline slightly last week, with the average at $3..44 in the loss column for every animal processed.

The spike in both cattle feeding and farrow-to-finish profits this spring is due to significantly higher cash prices and lower overall feed prices. Cash prices for fed cattle are more than $22 per cwt. higher than last year, and negotiated hog prices are more than $22 per cwt. higher than last year.

Profit Tracker: Lower Beef, Pork Margins

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 19:17:04 GMT

Profit margins for both beef and pork producers fell slightly last week, yet both sectors remain solidly profitable.

Cattle feeders recorded average profits of $223 per head last week, about $19 per head lower than the previous week, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker . The margins represent a $252 per head improvement over the average losses of $29 recorded last year at this time, according to estimates developed by John Nalivka, president of Sterling Marketing, Vale, Ore.

Beef cutout values declined $8.70 per cwt. last week, and beef packer margins declined $68 per head to end the week with losses of $36 per head. A month ago packers saw profits of $8 on every animal processed, and losses totaled $49 per head at the same time last year.

Farrow-to-finish hog margins declined $5.59 per head but profits remain more than $111 per head. The previous week recorded the highest pork profit margins in the Sterling Pork Profit Tracker database. Negotiated cash hog prices declined $0.35 per cwt. to $129.38 per cwt. Pork packers were estimated to lose $2.35 for every animal processed.

The spike in both cattle feeding and farrow-to-finish profits this spring is due to significantly higher cash prices and lower overall feed prices. Cash prices for fed cattle are more than $23 per cwt. higher than last year, and negotiated hog prices are nearly $50 per cwt. higher than last year.

Profit Tracker: Significant Rise

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 19:17:02 GMT

Profit margins for cattle feeders rose significantly in the past week, while pork producers saw a slight decrease from their still profitable farrow to finish operations.

Cattle feeders recorded average profits of $357.58 per head last week, more than $77 per head higher than the previous week, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker . The margins represent a $506 per head improvement over the average losses of $148.49 recorded last year at this time, according to estimates developed by John Nalivka, president of Sterling Marketing, Vale, Ore.

Beef cutout values were up $4.12 per cwt. last week, and beef packer margins increased $3.40 per head to end the week with proits of $71.50 per head. A month ago packers saw profits of $80.89 on every animal processed, and gains totaled just $17.69 per head at the same time last year.

Farrow-to-finish hog margins declined $9.09 per head but profits remain more than $102 per head. That is nearly an $85 difference from last year when pork producers saw only a $17.59 profit. Negotiated cash hog prices declined $4.13 per cwt. to $128.01 per cwt. Pork packers were estimated to make $5.26 for every animal processed.

The spike in both cattle feeding and farrow-to-finish profits this summer is due to significantly higher cash prices and lower overall feed prices. Cash prices for fed cattle are more than $44 per cwt. higher than last year, and negotiated hog prices are nearly $27 per cwt. higher than last year.

Profit Tracker: Beef Rising, Pork Falling

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 19:17:02 GMT

Profit margins for cattle feeders moved higher last week while pork producers saw a dip in profitability. Both sectors remain solidly profitable.

Cattle feeders recorded average profits of $381.70 per head last week, about $24 per head more than the previous week, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker . The margins represent a whopping $506.53 per head improvement over the average losses of $124.83 recorded last year at this time, according to estimates developed by John Nalivka, president of Sterling Marketing, Vale, Ore.

Beef cutout values improved $8.64 per cwt. last week, boosting beef packer margins to $81.12 per head to end the week. A month ago packers recorded profits of $47.75 on every animal processed, compared to just over $10 per head at the same time last year.

Farrow-to-finish hog margins declined $10.43 per head with average profits at more than $91 per head. Negotiated cash hog prices dipped by $4.73 per cwt. to $123.28 per cwt. Pork packers were estimated to earn $8.49 for every animal processed.

The spike in both cattle feeding and farrow-to-finish profits this summer is due to significantly higher cash prices and lower overall feed prices. Cash prices for fed cattle are more than $45 per cwt. higher than last year, and negotiated hog prices are more than $24 per cwt. higher than last year.

Profit Tracker: Feedyard Margins Rising

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 19:17:02 GMT

As America’s cattle market continues to defy historical trends, cattle feeding margins have benefited with solid profits most of the year. So far, June has produced weekly increases to per head feedyard profit margins, a rare occurrence in historical feedyard closeout data.

Last week saw cattle feeding margins increase $8 per head to an average of $172. The modest increase in profitability was due to $1 higher cash fed cattle prices and a slight decline in the average cost of gain, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker .

Profit margins for pork producers recorded slight gains last week at $74.74 per head. Negotiated cash hog prices were reported at $1.50 per cwt. higher for the week while feed costs declined slightly. Pork packers recorded average profits of $9.56 per hog last week, up from the $3 profits they earned the week before. Both beef and pork margins are calculated by John Nalivka, president, Sterling Marketing, Vale, Ore.

Cattle feeders’ profits last week were $306 per head more than at the same time last year when $133 per head losses were recorded. Beef cutout values declined $1.44 per cwt. last week, and packer margins declined $14 per head, leaving packers with per head profits of $47. A month ago packers recorded losses of $47 on every animal processed, while profits totaled $61 per head at the same time last year.

Farrow-to-finish hog margins are about $6 per cwt. below where they were a month ago, though significantly better than last year’s $7.35 per head profits. The spike in both cattle feeding and farrow-to-finish profits this spring is due to significantly higher cash prices and lower overall feed prices. Cash prices for fed cattle are nearly $24 per cwt. higher than last year, and negotiated hog prices are more than $14 per cwt. higher than last year.

Profit Tracker: Feedyard Margins Steady

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 19:17:02 GMT

Last week saw cattle feeding margins decrease $2.38 per head to an average profit of $170. The modest decline in profitability was due to higher cash costs for feeder cattle against fed cattle marketed last week, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker .

Profit margins for pork producers recorded gains last week of $8.01 per head for average profits of $74.74 per head. Negotiated cash hog prices were reported at $5.65 per cwt. higher for the week while feed costs declined slightly. Pork packers recorded average profits of $4.26 per hog last week, down from the $9.69 per head profits they earned the week before. Both beef and pork margins are calculated by John Nalivka, president, Sterling Marketing, Vale, Ore.

Cattle feeders’ profits last week were $367 per head more than at the same time last year when $196 per head losses were recorded. Beef cutout values increased $3.90 per cwt. last week, and packer margins declined $24 per head, leaving packers with per head profits of $23. A month ago packers recorded losses of $47 on every animal processed, while profits totaled $71 per head at the same time last year.

Farrow-to-finish hog margins are about $6 per cwt. above where they were a month ago, and significantly better than the $18 per head profits seen last year. Cash prices for fed cattle are nearly $30 per cwt. higher than last year, and negotiated hog prices are more than $15 per cwt. higher than last year.

Profit Tracker: Feeding Margins Near $200

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 19:17:02 GMT

Cattle feeders saw a significant, unseasonal bump in profit margins last week. Mid-June typically finds cash fed cattle prices drifting lower as supplies increase. Last week , however, produced a fed cattle market steady to $2 higher, and the result was nearly a $25 increase in per head profits.

Cattle feeding margins jumped to $194 per head last week, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker . Likewise, pork producers experienced a near $10 per head bump in profit margins. Farrow to finish margins are now more than $91 per head. Both beef and pork profit margins are calculated by John Nalivka, president, Sterling Marketing, Vale, Ore.

Cattle feeders’ profits last week were $373 per head more than at the same time last year when $179 per head losses were recorded. Beef cutout values increased nearly $7 per cwt. last week, and packer margins increased more than $25 per head, leaving packers with per head profits of $49.39. A month ago packers recorded profits of $20 on every animal processed, while profits totaled $81 per head at the same time last year. Pork packers saw a slight decrease in profit margins from $4.15 to $3.98 per head last week.

Farrow-to-finish hog margins are about $19 per cwt. above where they were a month ago, and significantly better than the $24 per head profits seen last year. Cash prices for fed cattle are nearly $30 per cwt. higher than last year, and negotiated hog prices are more than $19 per cwt. higher than last year.

Profit Tracker: No Dog Days Here

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 19:17:02 GMT

The dog days of summer are nowhere to be found with profits continuing to increase for both cattle and hog producers. Cattle feeders recorded average profits of $280.08 per head last week, up significantly from the previous week, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker. The margins represent a $442 per head improvement over the average losses of $162 recorded last year at this time, according to estimates developed by John Nalivka, president of Sterling Marketing, Vale, Ore.

Beef cutout values increased $6 per cwt. last week, while beef packer margins saw a big swing increasing by $31.95 to a margin of $81.07 per head. A week ago packers were making just $49.12 on every animal processed, and earnings totaled a little less at $73.15 per head the same time last year.

Farrow-to-finish hog margins increased $10.20 per head to more than $101 per head. Negotiated cash hog prices rallied almost $6 per cwt. to $127.22 per cwt. Pork packer margins saw a down turn with losses of $0.18 per head, compared to a profit of $3.87 last week.

The continued rise in both cattle feeding and farrow-to-finish profits is due to significantly higher cash prices and lower overall feed prices. Cash prices for fed cattle are nearly $35 per cwt. higher than last year, and negotiated hog prices are approximately $25 per cwt. higher than last year.

Cow-calf producers have also seen a drastic change in profit margins compared to the past few years. Currently producers are averaging $480 in profit per cow, that’s nearly double the $243.05 made last year and more promising than the $153.60 margin reported in 2011.

Profit Tracker: Feeding Margins Remain Above $300

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 19:17:02 GMT

Despite a $17 per head decline, average feedyard margins remained above $300 last week. Fed cattle prices dipped $2 to $3 per cwt., but lower breakevens on outgoing cattle supported solid profts, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker . Farrow to finish pork margins increased nearly $7 per head to $110. Both beef and pork profit margins are calculated by John Nalivka, president, Sterling Marketing, Vale, Ore.

Cattle feeders’ profits last week were a whopping $490 per head more than at the same time last year when $187 per head losses were the norm. Beef cutout values increased nearly $3 per cwt. last week, helping packers improve their margins by nearly $5 per head. Per head packer profits last week were estimated at $52. Packer profits totaled $59 per head at the same time last year. Pork packers saw a slight decrease in profit margins from a $2.37 per head profit to a 52-cent per head loss.

Farrow-to-finish hog margins are about $28 per cwt. above where they were a month ago, and significantly better than the $20 per head profits seen last year. Cash prices for fed cattle are nearly $37 per cwt. higher than last year, and negotiated hog prices are $31 per cwt. higher than last year.

Profit Tracker: Feedyard Margins Rebound

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 19:17:02 GMT

Cattle feeding margins increased nearly $8 per head higher last week to average $164. The slight increase in profitability was due to steady cash cattle prices and a decline in the average cost of gain, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker .

Profit margins for pork producers held steady last week at $72.66 per head. Negotiated cash hog prices were reported at $1 per cwt. lower for the week, offset by declining feed costs. Both beef and pork margins are calculated by John Nalivka, president, Sterling Marketing, Vale, Ore.

Cattle feeders’ profits last week were $273 per head more than at the same time last year when $109 per head losses were recorded. Beef cutout values increased $3 per cwt. last week, and packer margins improved $42 per head, leaving packers with per head profits of $62. A month ago packers recorded profits of $17 on every animal processed, while profits totaled $85 per head at the same time last year.

Farrow-to-finish hog margins are roughly at the same place they were a month ago, though significantly better than last year’s $4.65 per head profits. The spike in both cattle feeding and farrow-to-finish profits this spring is due to significantly higher cash prices and lower overall feed prices. Cash prices for fed cattle are nearly $21 per cwt. higher than last year, and negotiated hog prices are more than $16 per cwt. higher than last year.

Profit Tracker: Feeding Margins Decline $70 Per Head

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 19:16:59 GMT

Cattle feeding margins declined $70 per head last week, but remain more than $280. That’s a tidy profit, especially considering feedyards were losing more than $83 per head at the same time last year. The decline in profit margins was due to a $2.50 per cwt. decline in fed prices last week and breakevens that were nearly $3 per cwt. higher than the previous week, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker . Farrow to finish pork margins declined nearly $14 per head to $77.80. Both beef and pork profit margins are calculated by John Nalivka, president, Sterling Marketing, Vale, Ore.

Cattle feeders’ profits last week were a whopping $368 per head more than at the same time last year. Beef cutout values remained nearly steady, but packer margins improved nearly $16 per head last week to total $108 per head. Packer profits totaled $3 per head at the same time last year. Pork packers saw a $5 per head increase in profit margins to nearly $14 per head.

Farrow-to-finish hog margins are about $32 per lower than they were a month ago, but significantly better than the $30 per head profits seen last year. Cash prices for fed cattle are nearly $39 per cwt. higher than last year, and negotiated hog prices are $16 per cwt. higher than last year.

Profit Tracker: Feeding Margins Drop $87 Per Head

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 19:16:59 GMT

Cattle feeding margins declined $87 per head last week, but remain near $200. That’s a tidy profit, especially considering feedyards were losing more than $41 per head at the same time last year. The decline in profit margins was due to a $5 per cwt. decline in fed prices last week, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker . Farrow to finish pork margins declined $16 per head to $61.74. Both beef and pork profit margins are calculated by John Nalivka, president, Sterling Marketing, Vale, Ore.

Cattle feeders’ profits last week were a whopping $240 per head more than at the same time last year. Beef cutout values declined about $5 per cwt., and packer margins improved $2 per head last week to total $112 per head. Packer profits totaled $9 per head at the same time last year. Pork packers saw a $7 per head decline in profit margins to $7.23 per head.

Farrow-to-finish hog margins are about $50 per lower than they were a month ago, but significantly better than the $25 per head profits seen last year. Cash prices for fed cattle are nearly $31 per cwt. higher than last year, and negotiated hog prices are $10 per cwt. higher than last year.

Profit Tracker: Losing Steam

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 19:16:59 GMT

Profitability for both cattle and hog producers has been losing steam for the past month, but things could be a lot worse. Cattle feeders recorded average profits of $162.67 per head last week, down more than $35 from the previous week, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker . The margins represent a $222 per head improvement over the average losses of $59 recorded last year at this time, according to estimates developed by John Nalivka, president of Sterling Marketing, Vale, Ore.

Beef cutout values dropped almost $6 per cwt. last week, while beef packer margins saw an increase nearly $8 per head. A week ago packers were making just under $111 on every animal processed, and earnings totaled almost ten times worse at the same time last year when packers made $14.62 per head.

Farrow-to-finish hog margins dropped $21.42 per head this week. Negotiated cash hog prices fell $10 per cwt. to $99.72 per cwt. Pork packer margins saw a jump with profits of $11 per head, compared to a profit of $7.35 last week.

Cash prices for fed cattle are more than $30 per cwt. higher than last year, and negotiated hog prices are approximately $25 per cwt. higher than last year.

Profit Tracker: Cash Rally Fuels Higher Feeding Profits

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 19:16:59 GMT

Cattle feeding margins improved $27 per head last week pushing average profits above $227 per head. Profits jumped higher on a $4 per cwt. advance in cash prices despite a $6 per head increase in feed costs, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker . A year ago cattle feeding margins sat at $89 per head. Farrow to finish pork margins held steady at slightly more than $63 per head. Both beef and pork profit margins are calculated by John Nalivka, president, Sterling Marketing, Vale, Ore.

Futures markets attempted to pull cash down last week, but smaller show lists and strength in the boxed beef trade resulted in $2 to $4 gains for cash fed cattle. Prices were mostly $164 to $167 per cwt. live and $258 to $263 per cwt. dressed. Cattle feeders are seeking higher prices this week.

With the Choice cutout improving nearly $7 per cwt. last week, packer margins improved significantly, though packers continue to lose $40 on every animal processed. At this time last year packers were losing about $65 per head. Pork packers saw their average profits increase about $3.50 per head last week to more than $22.

Cash prices for fed cattle are nearly $36 per cwt. higher than last year, and negotiated hog prices are $17 per cwt. higher than last year.

Nalivka projects average cash profit margins for cow-calf producers at $527 per cow this year. Last year’s estimated average cow-calf margins were $243 per cow.

Profit Tracker: Feeding Margins Increase

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 19:16:59 GMT

Cattle feeding margins increased $10 per head last week as cash cattle prices improved, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker . The increase in margins was the first gain in a month, leaving average profits above $170 per head. A year ago feedyards were losing nearly $60 per head. Farrow to finish pork margins declined $12 per head to $28.10. Both beef and pork profit margins are calculated by John Nalivka, president, Sterling Marketing, Vale, Ore.

While cattle feeding profits remain at relatively high levels, pork profit margins have eroded significantly recently. Farrow-to-finish margins have declined more than $60 per head over the past month, losing roughly two-thirds of the $92 per head profits found in early August. Despite the decline, last week’s pork margins were well above last year’s $5 per head profits.

Beef cutout values declined about $4 per cwt. last week, and packer margins fell nearly $40 per head to total $81 per head. Beef packer profits totaled $13 per head at the same time last year. Pork packers saw a $1 per head decline in profit margins to $9.47 per head.

Cash prices for fed cattle are nearly $32 per cwt. higher than last year, and negotiated hog prices are $5 per cwt. higher than last year.

Profit Tracker: Feeding Margins Above $220 Per Head

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 19:16:59 GMT

Cattle feeding margins increased $50 per head last week as cash cattle prices improved $5 per cwt., according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker . The increase in margins was the second consecutive weekly gain, leaving average profits above $220 per head. A year ago feedyards were losing nearly $40 per head. Farrow to finish pork margins improved $5 per head to $33. Both beef and pork profit margins are calculated by John Nalivka, president, Sterling Marketing, Vale, Ore.

Feed costs continue to decline for livestock feeders, and both cattle and pork margins are significantly higher than a year ago. The estimated cost of feed to finish a steer in a feedlot is more than $100 less than it was last year at this time.

Beef packer margins declined $50 per head last week as they paid more for cattle and saw wholesale beef prices decline nearly $1 per cwt. Beef packer profits totaled $30 per head last week, significantly higher than $22 per head profits they earned last year. Pork packers saw a $5 per head decline in profit margins to $4.9 per head. Cash prices for fed cattle are nearly $38 per cwt. higher than last year, and negotiated hog prices are $6 per cwt. higher than last year.

Profit Tracker: Feeding Margins Fall $45 Per Head

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 19:16:59 GMT

Cattle feeding margins declined $45 per head last week as cash cattle prices dipped $3 per cwt. according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker . The softer cattle market was a reflection of increasing supplies of market-ready cattle and the fact packers are struggling with negative margins. Despite the decline in feeding margins, feedyard profits remain above $186 per head. A year ago feedyard margins were approximately $42 per head. Farrow to finish pork margins improved $6.37 per head to $54. Both beef and pork profit margins are calculated by John Nalivka, president, Sterling Marketing, Vale, Ore.

Feed costs continue to decline for cattle feeders. Cattle marketed last week saw feed costs about $77 per head less than cattle marketed at the same time last year. Feed costs for cattle placed on feed last week are projected to be another $100 per head lower.

Beef packer margins declined $23 per head last week leaving packers with losses of just more than $11 per head. Packer profits have been on the decline in recent weeks, though last week’s losses were less than the $30 per head losses recorded last year at this time. Pork packers saw a $6.40 per head gain in profitability to end the week with average margins of $4.48 per head. Cash prices for fed cattle are nearly $34 per cwt. higher than last year, and negotiated hog prices are $9 per cwt. higher than last year.

Profit Tracker: Feeding Profits Jump Above $230 Per Head

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 19:16:56 GMT

Record cash fed cattle prices last week at $171 - $172 per cwt. boosted cattle feeding margins $22 per head, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker . Feeding profits are up about $56 per head from a month ago, and $147 per head higher than the same week a year ago. Farrow to finish pork margins improved $4 per head to slightly more than $34 per head. Both beef and pork profit margins are calculated by John Nalivka, president, Sterling Marketing, Vale, Ore.

Beef packers saw their margins fall further into the red, with losses now totaling more than $83 per head, Sterling Marketing estimates. Those losses are nearly double what they were a month ago and $48 more than last year’s average losses of $35 per head. The beef cutout was up only slightly last week at $247.88.

Pork packers saw their margins slip $2 per head, with profits now just over $7 per head.

Cash prices for fed cattle are $38 per cwt. higher than last year, and negotiated hog prices are $6 per cwt. higher than last year.

Nalivka projects average cash profit margins for cow-calf producers at $556 per cow this year. Last year’s estimated average cow-calf margins were $243 per cow.

Profit Tracker: Feeding Profits Decline $50 Per Head

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 19:16:56 GMT

Cattle feeding margins declined $52 per head last week despite steady cash prices. Cattle feeders saw profits slip to an average of $175 per head after topping $227 per head the week before, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker . Shrinking profits were due to higher procurement prices paid for feeder cattle. A year ago cattle feeding margins sat at $88 per head. Farrow to finish pork margins slipped $8 per head to slightly more than $55 per head. Both beef and pork profit margins are calculated by John Nalivka, president, Sterling Marketing, Vale, Ore.

Beef packers also saw declining margins last week, with average per head losses at $44, compared with losses of $41 per head the week before. Last year at this time packers were losing $66 per head. The boxed beef cutout improved more than $3 per hundredweight last week to $245.87 per cwt. Cash fed cattle prices were quoted at $164.

Pork packers saw their margins slip more than $4 per head, but profits remain more than $18 per head. They were losing about $3 per head last year.

Cash prices for fed cattle are nearly $35 per cwt. higher than last year, and negotiated hog prices are $12 per cwt. higher than last year.

Nalivka projects average cash profit margins for cow-calf producers at $527 per cow this year. Last year’s estimated average cow-calf margins were $243 per cow.

Profit Tracker: Feeding Profits Increase $38 Per Head

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 19:16:56 GMT

Cattle feeding margins improved $38 per head last week as cash fed cattle prices rallied $6 per cwt. Cattle feeders saw profits climb to $213 per head after slipping to $175 per head the week before, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker . A year ago cattle feeding margins sat at $124 per head. Farrow to finish pork margins slipped $17 per head to slightly more than $38 per head. Both beef and pork profit margins are calculated by John Nalivka, president, Sterling Marketing, Vale, Ore.

Beef packers saw declining margins last week, with average per head losses at $68, compared with losses of $44 per head the week before. Last year at this time packers were losing $55 per head. The boxed beef cutout remained nearly steady last week to $245.75 per cwt. Cash fed cattle prices were quoted at $170.

Pork packers saw their margins slip nearly $10 per head, but profits remain more than $8 per head.

Cash prices for fed cattle are nearly $38 per cwt. higher than last year, and negotiated hog prices are $6 per cwt. higher than last year.

Nalivka projects average cash profit margins for cow-calf producers at $527 per cow this year. Last year’s estimated average cow-calf margins were $243 per cow.

Profit Tracker: Feeding Profits Remain North of $200 Per Head

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 19:16:56 GMT

Despite a $2 per cwt. decline in cash fed cattle prices last week, cattle feeding margins remain more than $209 per head. Profit margins declined just $4 per head last week, but are $9 per head higher than a month ago, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker . A year ago cattle feeding margins sat at $132 per head. Farrow to finish pork margins slipped $11 per head to slightly more than $27 per head. Both beef and pork profit margins are calculated by John Nalivka, president, Sterling Marketing, Vale, Ore.

Beef packers saw declining margins last week, with average per head losses at $83, compared with losses of $68 per head the week before. Last year at this time packers were losing $43 per head. The boxed beef cutout gained nearly $3 per cwt. last week to $248.51 per cwt. Cash fed cattle prices were quoted at $167.

Pork packers saw their margins slip nearly $6 per head, with profits now just about $3 per head.

Cash prices for fed cattle are nearly $35 per cwt. higher than last year, and negotiated hog prices are $2 per cwt. higher than last year.

Nalivka projects average cash profit margins for cow-calf producers at $527 per cow this year. Last year’s estimated average cow-calf margins were $243 per cow.

Profit Tracker: Feeding Profits Steady Above $200 Per Head

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 19:16:56 GMT

Steady cash fed cattle prices at $167 per cwt. last week left cattle feeding margins at a tidy $209 per head, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker . Feeding profits are down about $20 per head from a month ago, but $177 per head higher than the same week a year ago. Farrow to finish pork margins improved nearly $2 per head to slightly more than $29 per head. Both beef and pork profit margins are calculated by John Nalivka, president, Sterling Marketing, Vale, Ore.

Beef packers saw modest improvement to their long-running negative margins. Sterling Marketing estimates that beef packer margins improved $8 per head last week, leaving average losses at $75 per animal processed. Those losses are nearly double what they were a month ago and $45 more than last year’s average losses of $30 per head. The beef cutout declined about $1 per cwt. last week to $247.36.

Pork packers saw their margins slip nearly $4 per head, with profits now just under $10 per head.

Cash prices for fed cattle are nearly $36 per cwt. higher than last year, and negotiated hog prices are $5 per cwt. higher than last year.

Nalivka projects average cash profit margins for cow-calf producers at $556 per cow this year. Last year’s estimated average cow-calf margins were $243 per cow.

Profit Tracker: Feeder Cattle Prices Come Home to Roost

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 19:16:56 GMT

Despite another record-setting week for cash cattle trades, feedyard margins declined more than $100 per head. It’s not a misprint. Two weeks ago average feedyard margins were $231 per head. Last week, when cash cattle traded at $173 to $174 per cwt., average feedyard margins dropped to $132 per head, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker .

How is that possible? “It’s the result of higher feeder cattle prices for cattle placed in June against this week’s marketings,” says Sterling President John Nalivka. “The price of feeder steers against last week’s fed cattle sales were $16 per cwt. higher than the week before. That’s about $120 to $130 per head, and accounts for the large decline in profit margins for last week’s fed cattle marketings.”

The sharp decline in cattle feeding profits still leaves margins about $87 per head higher than last year when profits were estimated at $45 per head, according to Nalivka. Farrow-to-finish pork margins improved $5 per head last week to nearly $40 per head. Both beef and pork profit margins are calculated by Sterling Marketing, Vale, Ore.

Beef packers saw their margins hold steady, though losses remain at nearly $84 per head, Sterling Marketing estimates. Those losses are $28 per head more than last year’s average losses of $57 per head. The beef cutout was up nearly $4 per cwt. at $251.57.

Pork packers saw their margins slip more than $43 per head, with profits now just over $4 per head.

Cash prices for fed cattle are $41 per cwt. higher than last year, and negotiated hog prices are $8 per cwt. higher than last year.

Nalivka projects average cash profit margins for cow-calf producers at $556 per cow this year. Last year’s estimated average cow-calf margins were $243 per cow.

Profit Tracker: Feeding Margins Substantially Lower

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 19:16:56 GMT

Cattle feeding margins nose-dived $100 per head last week, settling at $45 per head, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker . Cash cattle prices averaged $166 to $167, fully $4 per cwt. lower than the previous week. Increasing costs of feeder cattle are also playing a larger role in feedyard closeouts. The price of feeder cattle accounted for nearly 78% of the total cost of producing a finished steer, or about 9% more than this time last year. Farrow-to-finish pork margins declined slightly, closing last week with a per head profit of $40. Both beef and pork profit margins are calculated by Sterling Marketing, Vale, Ore.

Beef packers saw their margins improve $8 per head, though losses remain at $70 per head, Sterling Marketing estimates. Those losses are $34 per head more than last year’s average losses of $36 per head. The beef cutout was down about $1 at $252.17.

Pork packers saw their margins improve about $1 per head, with profits now just over $3 per head.

Cash prices for fed cattle are $36 per cwt. higher than last year, and negotiated hog prices are $7 per cwt. higher than last year.

Nalivka projects average cash profit margins for cow-calf producers at $556 per cow this year. Last year’s estimated average cow-calf margins were $243 per cow.