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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.

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.

The adjectives have all been used to describe the despair that is cattle feeding. Last week was simply worse than the week before, which was a train wreck.

Calculated breakeven prices for cattle shipped from feedyards last week were $170.12, according to Sterling Marketing, Vale, Ore.

Last week’s $2.50 rally in the cash market was another step in the right direction, but closeouts remain $26.46 per cwt. short of break even.

After slicing more than 50% off the monstrous losses found a month ago, cattle feeders saw their margins slip $43 per further into the red last week with $2 per cwt. lower bids.