Search - Drovers

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.

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

Cattle feeders turned a tidy profit for the second consecutive week.

Cattle feeders continue to find modest profits on a cash basis despite last week’s $2 per cwt. market retreat.

Cattle feeding margins jumped $72 per head higher the week ending Jan. 25 as the value of feeder cattle calculated against those closeouts declined $8 per cwt.

Cattle and hogs prices both moved higher last week and both enterprises posted profits on closeouts for the first time in several months.

Cash cattle prices lost another $2 per cwt. last week, a decline of $7 over two weeks. Coupled with higher input costs on feeder cattle, the decline feedyards with an average $22 per head loss last week.