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Last week’s $2 per cwt. decline in cash cattle prices left feedyard margins at near breakeven levels.

Cattle feeding margins improved $43 per head last week as cash prices gained nearly $2 per cwt.

Cattle feeding margins improved $16 per head last week as cash prices inched higher less than $1 per cwt.

Cattle feeding and packer profit margins both declined last week as cash cattle prices were modestly lower.

Cattle feeding and packer profit margins were mostly steady the week ending December 21, with cash prices for fed cattle slightly higher.

Feedyard margins climbed back into triple digits last week with a $1 to $2 price rally.

Packer margins advanced on softer cash cattle prices and gain in the beef cutout prices.

Packer margins have grown to exceptionally high levels in recent weeks, while feedyard profits have eroded.

Beef packers continued to maintain their leverage on cattle markets heading into the holiday-shortened first week of September.

Feedyard profit margins rebounded slightly after last week’s $2 rally in the cash fed cattle market.