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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.

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.