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After two weeks of losses, cattle feeding margins are back in the black.

Cattle feeders began the New Year with black ink on their closeouts, but profits were minimal

It’s the best signal cattle feeders have seen in many months.

For the first time in over a year, average cattle feeding losses are out of triple digits, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker.

The march toward break even for cattle feeders stumbled last week as average losses increased $36 per head, leaving closeouts $113 in the red, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker.

Easter week produced a $3 per cwt. decline in fed cattle prices and a $73 erosion in cattle feeding margins.

Cattle feeding margins gained only modestly, despite the fact feeder cattle factored into closeouts were $40 per head less than the previous week.

Last week’s $2 per cwt. rally in cash fed cattle prices helped feedyard closeouts improve nearly $100 per head.

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.