Taking a look at the beef profit tracker, the average comprehensive cutout value for the week ending March 1 was about unchanged from the prior week. The negotiated Choice steer price was off $2/cwt averaging $199.87. This left estimated feedlot margins at about $198/head and down about $40/head.
Feedlot average break-even prices for the week were pushed to about $197 with a $12/cwt increase in feeder cattle prices.
Though somewhat improved from the prior week, fed beef packer margin remain deep in red ink with an estimated average loss for the week of $152/hd.
View the full Sterling Beef Profit Tracker for the week ending March 1.
The Beef and Pork Profit Trackers are calculated by Sterling Marketing, Vale, Ore.
(Note: The Sterling Beef Profit Tracker calculates an average beef cutout value for the week in its estimates for feedyard and packer margins. Other prices in the weekly Profit Tracker also are calculated weekly averages. Feedyard margins are calculated on a cash basis only with no adjustment for risk management practices. The Beef and Pork Profit Trackers are intended only as a benchmark for the average cash costs of feeding cattle and hogs. Sterling Marketing is a private, independent beef and pork consulting firm not associated with any packing company or livestock feeding enterprise.)
