Farms.com Home   News

Profit Tracker: Cattle Feeding Margins Top $200

Autumn’s fed cattle price rally has pushed average cattle feeding margins through the $200 per head barrier for the first time since well before the pandemic.

Cattle traded last week for a national average of $152.75 per cwt., the highest price in seven years, resulting in average profits of $207 per head, according to the Sterling Beef Profit Tracker. That’s $20 per head higher than the previous week. Profit margins may be up but so are the costs associated with finishing a steer.

Cattle placed on feed last week, however, are estimated to have a breakeven of $154.37 per cwt. That’s based on 750-800 lb. feeder steers at $179.01 per cwt., and feed costs of $597 per head. The feeder steer price is 14% higher than last year. The Beef and Pork Profit Trackers are calculated by Sterling Marketing, Vale, Oregon.

Estimated beef packer margins for the week ending Nov. 5 were $70 per head, up $4 per head from the previous week and down 90% from estimated margins a year ago of $674 per head. Last week’s Choice beef cutout averaged $258.95 per cwt., about $2 higher than the previous week and down $26 per cwt. (9%) from the same week a year ago.

Click here to see more...

Trending Video

Digital Tools & Pig Behavior Shaping the Future of Swine Genetics

Video: Digital Tools & Pig Behavior Shaping the Future of Swine Genetics

At World Pork Expo, Rachel Fishback sits down with Dan Hamilton to discuss how pig behavior—particularly social network insights—is reshaping breeding strategies and on-farm management. They also explore how a real-time digital phenotyping tool is already driving improvements in genetic selection and sow longevity.