Search - Drovers

Most analysts expected feedyards to be near breakeven by the time the calendar turned to May. May is here and the underperforming cash fed cattle market has kept feedyards struggling.

Feedyards are as close to breaking even on a cash basis as they’ve been during any point in the past 18 months.

Cattle feeders finally found profitability last week after cattle markets posted a $6 to $7 per cwt. rally.

Cattle feeders turned a tidy profit last week despite a $2 retreat in cash cattle prices.

Feedyard margins remained about $150 per head last week despite a $6 per cwt. retreat in cash cattle prices.

A cash market rally helped add $62 per head to feedyard margins last week, ending with total average profits of $212 per head, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker.

Cattle feeding profits declined $20vper head last week, yet closeouts remained $11 in the black.

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

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

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