Beef Profit Tracker: Margins Improving For Packers
- ZISK
- Aug 29
- 1 min read
The margin landscape is ever-changing for packers with Sterling’s estimate showing significant improvement over the previous week in response to a sharply higher Comprehensive Cutout Value ($393.98/cwt.) against the cost of Choice steers ($242.45/cwt. for cattle purchased the week of Aug. 16).
This left the margin at -$73.48 /head compared to -$209.97/head the prior week.
Feedlot margins posted a gain last week ($710.88/head) marketing cattle at an average 5-Area Direct Choice Steer of $244.76/cwt. with a breakeven cost of $193.98/cwt.
By John Nalivka
Updated August 27, 2025 09:38 AM
Comments