Higher fed cattle prices ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday helped lift cattle feeding margins modestly.
Cattle feeding margins improved modestly on higher cash prices last week. Packer margins declined slightly.
Cattle feeding margins improved $43 per head last week as cash prices gained nearly $2 per cwt.
Feedlot closeouts averaged a profit of $22 per head last week, while packer margins remain above $200.
Calling losses of $193 per head an improvement may be painful, but it’s accurate.
Cattle feeders saw closeouts with an average profit of $58 per head last week, down modestly from the week before.
Average cattle and hog finishing margins are both positive for the third consecutive week, according to calculations in the Sterling Marketing Profit Tracker.