Search - Drovers

Cattle feeding losses nearly doubled last week as cash fed cattle prices declined another $2 per cwt.

Last week saw dramatic improvement in cattle feeding margins, yet triple-digit losses remain.

A $6 per head decline in cattle feeding margins is tolerable, unless you were already losing $112.

Cattle feeding margins took two steps back last week as cash cattle prices hover around what producers hope are the summer lows.

Cattle feeders and beef packers are hoping the price lows are in for the summer as both operated at a loss last week.

The adjectives have all been used to describe the despair that is cattle feeding. Last week was simply worse than the week before, which was a train wreck.

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.

Last week’s $2.50 rally in the cash market was another step in the right direction, but closeouts remain $26.46 per cwt. short of break even.

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.