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

Uncharted territory. That’s where America’s cattle feeding industry finds itself as fed cattle lose $611 per head.

Another miserable week left many in the cattle feeding business on the brink of financial ruin.

The crisis continues for America’s cattle feeders.

A $6-plus per cwt. gain in cash cattle prices produced a 20% improvement in feeding margins.

Cattle feeding margins improved by 50% over the past two weeks, and by 38% during the past week.

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.

Feedyard closeouts saw a $100 per head improvement last week, bringing losses under the $300 per head mark for the first time in months.

Last week’s $3 per cwt. decline in cash fed cattle prices dealt another cruel blow to feedyard closeouts.

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