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

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

Cattle prices have fallen and so are profits.

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

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

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

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

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

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