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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.

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

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.

Cattle feeding margins slipped further into the red last week.

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.

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

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.

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