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A weaker cash cattle market produced stronger profit margins for both packers and feedyards last week

Cattle feeders, pork producers and packers for both segments found solid profits during the first week of the New Year.

Cattle feeding profits more than doubled last week, a bounce due to a $3 rally in cash fed cattle prices.

Feedyard closeouts recorded solid, yet declining profits on cattle marketed last week, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker.

A rally in cash fed cattle prices helped boost average feedyard profits to $99 per head.

Feedyard closeouts took a hit from last week’s $3 per cwt. decline in cash prices, but average margins remain above $77 per head.

last week's $2 per cwt. rally in fed cattle prices helped boost feedyard closeouts $41 per head to average profits of $131 per head.

Cash fed cattle prices declined more than $4 per cwt. last week, fueling a $28 per head decline in cattle feeding margins.

Cash fed cattle prices dipped just $1 per cwt., but cattle feeding profit margins declined $111 per head last week to $57.

The two-week rally in fed cattle prices has added more than $150 per head to profit margins.

Packers resisted paying higher money last week right up to happy hour on Friday. The feet-dragging suggested their profit margins would look bleak when the dust settled.

Cattle feeding remains slightly better than breakeven while packers turn a tidy profit.

Last week's $2 fed cattle rally lifted feedyard margins into the black.

Cattle feeders lost an average of $13 per head last week, breaking a string of 46 consecutive weeks of profitability dating back to November of last year.

Average feedyard margins declined $18 per head last week, settling at $26. With average margins that close to breakeven, many cattle sold last week undoubtedly lost money.

Feedyard profit margins rebounded slightly after last week’s $2 rally in the cash fed cattle market.

Feedyard profit margins rebounded slightly after last week’s $2 rally in the cash fed cattle market.

America’s cattle feeders earned an average of $323 on a cash basis for every steer and heifer they sent to market during the first eight months of 2017.

There are few losers in the cattle market right now. From packers all the way down to cow-calf producers, current prices this summer are turning profits far into what is typically a seasonal lull.

Cattle feeders saw positive margins on closeouts for the ninth consecutive week.

Cattle feeders turned a profit for the eighth consecutive week.

Feedlot closeouts continue ending on positive notes.

Cowboys and packers finished 2016 on a high note, maintaining per head profits north of $100 for the week ended Dec. 30.

Cattle feeders earned average profits of $68 per head last week, $30 per head more than the previous week.

Cattle feeders earned average profits of $68 per head last week, $30 per head more than the previous week.

Normally when profit margins decline $50-plus per head there’s no rejoicing. 

Normally when profit margins decline $50-plus per head there's no rejoicing.

Cattle feeders turned a tidy profit for the second consecutive week.

Cattle feeders earned a small profit on cattle sold last week, the first positive closeouts in months.

The red ink has started to slow down for feedlots and cattle prices have rallied lately, giving beef producers something to be thankful for.

Losses continue to mount for feedlots.

Feedyard margins saw only slight improvement last week as direct trade prices held steady.

Last week's market rally helped feedyards erase much of their red ink, but not all.

Calling losses of $193 per head an improvement may be painful, but it’s accurate.

Calling losses of $193 per head an improvement may be painful, but it's accurate.

Cattle prices have fallen and so are profits.

Feedyard margins dropped another $20 last week to total an average loss of $90 per head, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker. 

Feedyard margins declined $28 per head last week to total an average loss of $70 per head, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker. 

Feedyard margins improved last week despite a $3 per cwt. decline in cash cattle prices. 

Last week’s $4-plus rally in cash fed cattle prices cut average feedyard losses in half, leaving the red ink totaling $90 on every animal shipped.

With cash cattle prices tumbling another $4 per cwt lower, cattle feeding margins fell accordingly.

A decline of $5 per cwt in cash fed cattle prices pushed cattle feeding margins $60 per head lower, leaving losses at $120 per head, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker. 

Cattle feeding margins slipped further into the red last week. 

Cattle feeding margins slipped further into the red last week.

A $1 decline in average fed cattle prices and a $25 per head increase in the cost of feeder cattle pushed cattle feeding losses to $52 per head last week.

Last week’s $1 per cwt retreat in cash cattle prices took feedyard margins only modestly lower. 

Last week’s $2 per cwt cash cattle rally lifted feedyard margins to breakeven. 

The dog days of summer are here for cattle producers as red ink continues seeping into feedlot ledgers.

Cattle feeding margins eroded $62 per head last week, falling $35 into negative territory.