Profit Tracker
The key is demand and managing feedlot break-evens as cattle numbers continue to decline, says John Nalivka, president of Sterling Marketing Inc.
Beef packers saw significant margin improvement the week ending August 30, while pork packer margins, though down from the previous week, were sharply higher than a year ago.
Last week’s substantial drop in the breakeven feeding cost for feeder cattle placed on feed last week is significant to the market outlook, says John Nalivka, president of Sterling Marketing Inc., in the latest Sterling Profit Tracker.
Negotiated cash cattle retreated an average of $2.31 per cwt. The week ending Aug. 17 and profit margins dropped by $79 per head to an industry average of $167 per head, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker.
Profit margins for cattle sold for slaughter last week declined $55 per head, according to the Sterling Profit Tracker.
Cattle feeding margins declined by $80 per head last week as cash prices slumped $1 to $2 per cwt.
Cattle feeding margins improved $16 per head last week as cash prices inched higher less than $1 per cwt.
Cattle feeding margins improved $43 per head last week as cash prices gained nearly $2 per cwt.
Cattle feeding margins are rapidly declining as cash cattle prices retreat from spring highs
The pain eased somewhat for cattle feeders last week, but losses remain more than $170 per head.
It was another ugly week for cattle feeders.
Beef packers put away the red ink last week as they turned modest profits on every animal processed. Feedyard margins, however, slipped a little further away from positive.
Cash cattle prices dipped nearly 50 cents per cwt.
Whether you’re cattle feeder or packer, ledger sheets are full of red ink.
Cattle feeding margins declined $45 per head last week, leaving average per head losses at more than $77.
Cattle feeding margins improved nearly $25 per head last week, but average per head losses remain more than $32.
Cattle feeding margins declined nearly $53 per head last week, leaving average losses at $56 per head.
The financial pain of feeding cattle eased again last week, but losses remain more than $125 per head.
The pain eased somewhat for cattle feeders last week, but losses remain more than $97 per head.
Cattle feeding margins took another turn south last week after a nearly $4 per cwt. decline in fed cattle prices.
Cattle feeding margins took another tumble last week after a $1 per cwt. decline in fed cattle prices.
Cattle feeders added a little powder and lipstick to closeouts this week, but the ugly continues to shine through.
Last week saw dramatic improvement in cattle feeding margins, yet triple-digit losses remain.
A $6 per head decline in cattle feeding margins is tolerable, unless you were already losing $112.
Cattle feeding margins took two steps back last week as cash cattle prices hover around what producers hope are the summer lows.
Cattle feeders and beef packers are hoping the price lows are in for the summer as both operated at a loss last week.
Already facing steep losses, cattle feeders saw their margins decline further in a dismal pre-Labor Day market.
With cash fed cattle prices tumbling $6 per cwt. last week an increase in cattle feeding losses was certain.
Cattle feeding margins took another tumble last week as cash fed cattle prices declined $2.40 per cwt.