Latest News From Profit Tracker

Profit Tracker: Growing Packer/Feeder Margin Spread
Profit Tracker: Growing Packer/Feeder Margin Spread

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.

Profit Tracker: Steady In The Red
Profit Tracker: Steady In The Red

Cattle and hog feeding margins were little changed last week, with both recording modest losses. Beef packers saw improved margins on significant gains in wholesale beef prices.

Profit Tracker: Beef Packer Margins Decline 33%
Profit Tracker: Beef Packer Margins Decline 33%

On a percentage basis, beef packer margins declined significantly last week. It's all relative, of course, since the starting point from the previous week was stunning.

Profit Tracker: Feeding Margins Positive 11th Consecutive Week
Profit Tracker: Feeding Margins Positive 11th Consecutive Week

Cattle and hog finishing margins were modestly positive the first week of December, marking the 11th consecutive week of profitability. Packer margins remain historically high.

Profit Tracker: Cattle, Hog Margins Steady
Profit Tracker: Cattle, Hog Margins Steady

Cattle and hog feeding operations saw their margins remain modestly profitable last week with little movement in cash prices. Both cattle and hog feeding margins are higher than last year at the same time.

Profit Tracker: Cattle Margins Improve, Hogs Decline
Profit Tracker: Cattle Margins Improve, Hogs Decline

Cattle and hog finishing margins are both modestly positive for the seventh consecutive week, though hog margins saw a slight decline with lower lean carcass prices.

Profit Tracker: Modest Profit Holding Pattern
Profit Tracker: Modest Profit Holding Pattern

Closeouts on cattle and hogs marketed last week remain modestly profitable for the sixth consecutive week, according to calculations by Sterling Marketing.

Profit Tracker: Profit Margins Erode For Cattle And Hogs
Profit Tracker: Profit Margins Erode For Cattle And Hogs

Cattle and hog finishing margins remain positive for the sixth consecutive week, but cash prices for both declined modesty last week and margins eroded.

Profit Tracker: Feedyard Losses Estimated At $254
Profit Tracker: Feedyard Losses Estimated At $254

Cattle feeders and pork producers continue to experience significant per head losses as market prices trend lower following slaughter and processing challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Profit Tracker: Eroding Feedlot Margins
Profit Tracker: Eroding Feedlot Margins

Cattle feeding losses increased the week ending April 11, as cash prices fell $6 per cwt. on soft packer demand for market-ready cattle.

Profit Tracker: Packer Profits Surge Higher
Profit Tracker: Packer Profits Surge Higher

Sharply higher beef cutout values produced windfall profits for beef packers last week while cattle feeders saw closeouts with average losses about steady, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker.

Profit Tracker: Feeding Margins Continue Decline
Profit Tracker: Feeding Margins Continue Decline

Based on cash sales of $108.77, cattle closeouts lost an average of $90 per head the week ending March 15.

Profit Tracker: Feeding Margins Slip Into The Red
Profit Tracker: Feeding Margins Slip Into The Red

Cash cattle prices lost another $2 per cwt. last week, a decline of $7 over two weeks. Coupled with higher input costs on feeder cattle, the decline feedyards with an average $22 per head loss last week.

Profit Tracker: Packer/Feeder Margin Spread Widens
Profit Tracker: Packer/Feeder Margin Spread Widens

Despite a $2 decline in cash fed cattle prices, feedyard closeouts reported positive mid-winter results while packer margins held firm.

Profit Tracker: Margins Retreat On Lower Prices
Profit Tracker: Margins Retreat On Lower Prices

Cattle feeders continue to find modest profits on a cash basis despite last week's $2 per cwt. market retreat.

Profit Tracker: Feedyards Remain In The Black
Profit Tracker: Feedyards Remain In The Black

Despite an average $1 decline in cash fed cattle prices last week, cattle feeding margins remained solidly profitable on a cash basis.

Profit Tracker: Packer/Feeder Margin Spread Flips To Favor Feeders
Profit Tracker: Packer/Feeder Margin Spread Flips To Favor Feeders

Cattle feeding profit margins exceeded beef packer margins last week for the first time in more than two years as cash cattle prices have increased 20% since September.

Profit Tracker: Packer Margins Lowest In Five Months
Profit Tracker: Packer Margins Lowest In Five Months

Beef packers saw their margins decline to the lowest level since before the Tyson packing plant fire August 9 as beef cutout prices declined and cash cattle prices increased.

Profit Tracker: Feedyard Profits Rise To Triple Digits
Profit Tracker: Feedyard Profits Rise To Triple Digits

Feedyards saw closeouts improve dramatically last week after the cash cattle market posted its third consecutive week of higher prices.

Profit Tracker: Rally Boosts Packer Margins
Profit Tracker: Rally Boosts Packer Margins

Last week’s $1 increase in cash fed cattle prices did little for feedyard profits, but the $6.40 rally in wholesale beef prices added another $25 onto already large packer margins.

Profit Tracker: Packer/Feeder Margin Spread Under $400
Profit Tracker: Packer/Feeder Margin Spread Under $400

The combination of shrinking packer profits and smaller feedyard losses over the past six weeks has reduced the packer/feeder margin spread by 27%, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker.

Profit Tracker: Packer/Feeder Margin Spread Narrows
Profit Tracker: Packer/Feeder Margin Spread Narrows

Last week's $2 rally in cash cattle prices helped narrow the spread between feedyard losses and packer profits.

Packer/Feeder Margin Spread Now Exceeds $600 Per Head
Packer/Feeder Margin Spread Now Exceeds $600 Per Head

Losses continued to grow for feedyards and the spread between feeder losses and packer profits only widened with a $1.50 per cwt. decline in cash cattle prices last week.

Spread Grows Between Packer and Feeder Margins
Spread Grows Between Packer and Feeder Margins

Beef packer continued with a stranglehold on cattle markets last week, buying a few cattle to fill their needs at lower money and keeping operating margins historically high.

Profit Tracker: Packer Margins Remain Above $450
Profit Tracker: Packer Margins Remain Above $450

Beef packers continued to maintain their leverage on cattle markets heading into the holiday-shortened first week of September.

CAB Insider: Supply/Demand Shifts Seasonal Premium
CAB Insider: Supply/Demand Shifts Seasonal Premium

The cash market for fed cattle last week gave some relief to feeders and overall market sentiment in the wake of the prior week’s $5/cwt. decline.

Profit Tracker: Feeder Margins Lower, Packer Jackpot
Profit Tracker: Feeder Margins Lower, Packer Jackpot

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

Retained Ownership 2019
Retained Ownership 2019

This year's weather extremes will play a role in the success of calf marketing programs.

Profit Tracker: Packer Margins Went Up How Much?!
Profit Tracker: Packer Margins Went Up How Much?!

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

Profit Tracker: Margins Lower On Soft Cash
Profit Tracker: Margins Lower On Soft Cash

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

Profit Tracker: Feeding Losses Reach Triple Digits
Profit Tracker: Feeding Losses Reach Triple Digits

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

Profit Tracker: Feeding Margins Spiral Downward
Profit Tracker: Feeding Margins Spiral Downward

Cattle feeding profit margins retreat further with a weaker cash market and limited packer interest.

Profit Tracker: Feeding Margins Near Breakeven
Profit Tracker: Feeding Margins Near Breakeven

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

Profit Tracker: Feedyard Margins Rapidly Declining
Profit Tracker: Feedyard Margins Rapidly Declining

Cattle feeding margins are rapidly declining as cash cattle prices retreat from spring highs

Profit Tracker: Feedyard Margins Improve $43

Cattle feeding margins improved $43 per head last week as cash prices gained nearly $2 per cwt.

Profit Tracker: Feedyard Margins Improve $43
Profit Tracker: Feedyard Margins Improve $43

Cattle feeding margins improved $43 per head last week as cash prices gained nearly $2 per cwt.

Profit Tracker: Feedyard Margins Improve $16
Profit Tracker: Feedyard Margins Improve $16

Cattle feeding margins improved $16 per head last week as cash prices inched higher less than $1 per cwt.

Profit Tracker: Feedyard Margins Decline $80
Profit Tracker: Feedyard Margins Decline $80

Cattle feeding margins declined by $80 per head last week as cash prices slumped $1 to $2 per cwt.

Profit Tracker: Margins Decline $55 Per Head
Profit Tracker: Margins Decline $55 Per Head

Profit margins for cattle sold for slaughter last week declined $55 per head, according to the Sterling Profit Tracker.

<p>BT Feedlot Cattle</p>
Profit Tracker: Margins Improve Modestly

Cattle feeding margins improved modestly on higher cash prices last week. Packer margins declined slightly.

Feeder cattle finishes up sharply and lean hogs again sinks to four-month low.
Profit Tracker: Margins Improve With Rally

Industry-wide average cattle feeding margins improved last week, while pork producer margins declined.

Profit Tracker: Feeders Seek Leverage
Profit Tracker: Feeders Seek Leverage

Feedyard closeouts saw modest improvement last week, but cattle feeders remain frustrated by their inability to push the cash market higher.

<p>Feedlot cattle in western Kansas.</p>
Feeding Margins Trend Higher With Rally

Cash cattle prices improved $1 per cwt., helping lift feeding margins to $118 per head, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker.

<p>Cattle in a feedlot with a mill in the background.</p>
Feeding, Packer Margins Exceed Triple Digits

Both feeding and packing profit margins exceeded $100 per head last week with a $1 rally in the cash fed cattle trade.

Feeding Margins Now Exceed Packer Margins
Feeding Margins Now Exceed Packer Margins

For the first time since December, 2017, cattle feeding margins have exceeded packer margins in the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker.

Margins Narrow Between Packers, Feeders
Margins Narrow Between Packers, Feeders

The profit margin spread between packers and feedyards has shifted more than $320 per head since last June.

Profit Tracker: Feeder, Packer Margins Steady

Cattle feeding and packer profit margins were mostly steady the week ending December 21, with cash prices for fed cattle slightly higher.

Profit Tracker: Feeder, Packer Margins Steady
Profit Tracker: Feeder, Packer Margins Steady

Cattle feeding and packer profit margins were mostly steady the week ending December 21, with cash prices for fed cattle slightly higher.

Profit Tracker: Feeder, Packer Margins Slip

Cattle feeding and packer profit margins both declined last week as cash cattle prices were modestly lower.

<p>Feedlot cattle being received.&nbsp;</p>
Profit Tracker: Feeder, Packer Margins Slip

Cattle feeding and packer profit margins both declined last week as cash cattle prices were modestly lower.