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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.

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.

A cash market rally helped add $62 per head to feedyard margins last week, ending with total average profits of $212 per head, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker.

Cattle feeding profits declined $20vper head last week, yet closeouts remained $11 in the black.

Feedyards are as close to breaking even on a cash basis as they’ve been during any point in the past 18 months.

Cattle feeders finally found profitability last week after cattle markets posted a $6 to $7 per cwt. rally.