Profit Tracker: Feedlot Margins Hold While Packers Bleed Red Ink
- ZISK
- 17 hours ago
- 1 min read
The market continues to surprise many observers. Last week’s 5-Area Choice Steer prices advanced to average $263.42/cwt. leaving feedlot margins averaging $177.77/head for the week according to Sterling calculations against a higher breakeven resulting from a jump in feeder cattle prices when those cattle were placed.
Feeder cattle prices last week were off $13/cwt. and dropped break-evens for last week’s placements to $243.51/cwt. from $252.52/cwt. the previous week. It should be noted that there are break-evens bumping $260/cwt. out in the country.
Packer margins last week continued to erode and fall further into red ink with Sterling’s weekly average -$298.42/head compared against -$246.42/head the prior week.
By John Nalivka
May 19, 2026 10:31 AM
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