# Red ink period for cattle feeders may be coming to end

> Purdue economist Michael Langemeier says fed cattle prices rose from about $101/cwt in September 2019 to $122 by year-end, which ended a run of losses dating to early 2018. Feeding margins improved in the fourth quarter, with losses expected to narrow to $10 to $40 per head. Breakevens for the first half of 2020 are projected at $119 to $122/cwt.

- Date: 2020-01-13 · published 2020-01-13T12:00:00.000Z
- Category: market · region US · magnitude low
- Page: https://feedsoft.ai/events/55216-red-ink-period-for-cattle-feeders-may-be-coming-to-end
- Commodities: [Live Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/LCATTLE.md), [Feeder Cattle](https://feedsoft.ai/c/FCATTLE.md)

## Why it matters

Improved feeder margins and firm fed prices into mid-2020 support cattle prices and encourage feedlot placements, which sustains demand for feed.

## Read by commodity

- FCATTLE: bullish ▲
- LCATTLE: bullish ▲

## Sources

- feedstuffs.com: https://www.feedstuffs.com/livestock-and-poultry-market-news/red-ink-period-for-cattle-feeders-may-be-coming-to-end

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Data from Feedsoft AI (https://feedsoft.ai/). For information only; not investment advice.