Profit Tracker
Negotiated cash cattle increased an average of $1.18 per cwt. the week ending Sept. 14 and profit margins dropped by $13 per head to an industry average of $130.66 per head, according to Sterling Marketing. Farrow-to-finish hog producers found positive margins of $16 per head last week, down $2.91 from the previous week.
The key is demand and managing feedlot break-evens as cattle numbers continue to decline, says John Nalivka, president of Sterling Marketing Inc.
Beef packers were forced to pay up to acquire inventory last week and the result was a boost to feedyard profits and increasing packer losses. Pork prices and margins saw little change.
Cattle feeding margins remain near historic levels but the cost of replacements continue pushing breakevens to all-time highs. Pork producer profits hold above $50 per head.
A rally in cash cattle prices lifted cattle feeding margins more than $100 per head and left packers mired in red ink. Pork margins have held firm in the mid-$40s for six weeks.
Little change was found for livestock feeders last week as near identical week-to-week market prices held margins solidly in the black. Beef packers saw modest improvement with higher wholesale beef prices.
After briefly exceeding $400 per head, cattle feeding margins tumbled $75 last week, but the balance didn’t go to the packer as their losses increased. Pork margins held firm.
Cattle feeding margins exceeded $400 per head as cash prices improved $2 per cwt. and production costs declined modestly. Pork margins saw a slight decline but remain solidly above $40 per head.
A solid rally for cash fed cattle coupled with declining total feeding costs helped boost cattle feeding margins nearly $85 per head above the previous week. Pork margins now over $40 for the fourth consecutive week.
Livestock feeders find solid profits as the summer grilling season begins. Beef and pork packers continue to struggle with negative margins.
Genetic progress by breeds and seedstock breeders has helped improve our odds of making improvements in multiple traits by raising the average in specific traits.
May began on a positive note for livestock feeders as cash prices notched modest gains and slightly improved margins. Packers remain awash in red ink.
Cattle feeders and pork producers both saw higher cash prices for harvest-ready animals last week and margins improved accordingly. Packers continue to struggle with negative margins.
Cattle and hog feeders find dramatically lower feed costs compared to last year with higher live anumal sales prices. Beef packers continue to struggle with negative margins.
Cattle and hog feeders are benefitting from dramatically lower grain and feed costs this year while live animal sale prices are higher. Profit margins for both species have doubled in the past month.
The margin spread between packer losses and feedyard profits expands as wholesale beef prices continue their retreat. Pork producer profits continue increasing.
Packer and feeder margins continue trending in opposite directions as declining wholesale beef prices erase any improvement packers may have seen from lower cash cattle prices. Pork producer profits steady.
Last week’s rally to new record prices pushed packer and feeder margins in opposite directions. Pork producer margins continue higher with prices now above year ago.
Cattle feeding margins show improvement with higher prices. Beef packer losses remain in triple digits as market-ready supplies remain tight. Pork producer margins gain on higher prices.
Cattle feeding margins improved as prices advanced. Beef packer margins improved but losses remain in triple digits as market-ready supplies remain tight. Pork producer margins gain on higher prices.
Cattle feeding margins inched lower last week with rising costs. Packer margins improved but remain in triple digits as market-ready supplies remain tight. Pork producers turn a profit for the first time in 14 months.
Cattle feeding margins improved significantly the past month, crossing into positive territory last week. Beef packers continue to struggle with tight supplies. Pork producers reach breakeven.
Cattle feeding margins have improved significantly the past month, yet losses remain the norm. Beef packers continue to struggle with tight supplies and range-bound wholesale beef prices. Pork inches toward breakeven.
Improving prices for live cattle helped boost cattle feeding margins to near breakeven, but higher bids pushed beef packer margins deeper into the red. Pork producers also found improved margins but remain in the red.
Improving prices for live cattle helped boost cattle feeding margins but the higher bids and lower wholesale beef prices turned packer margins negative. Pork producers also found improved margins but remain in the red.
Improving prices for live cattle and wholesale beef lifted margins for both feeders and packers. Pork producers also found improved margins but remain in the red.
Weather continues disrupting shipping and harvest operations for livestock producers across the Corn Belt and Central Plains as both cattle and hog feeding losses continue to mount.
Winter weather dominated livestock markets the second full week of the year with slowing harvest and transportation. Cattle and hog prices were steady and margins improved modestly, yet losses remain significant.
The first week of the New Year provided little cheer for either cattle feeders or beef packers as both saw increasing per head losses. Ditto for pork producers.
Santa failed to deliver any margin improvements for cattle and hog producers while beef and pork packers operated in the black.