Beef packer margins improved further, with estimated net returns increasing to $126/head from $48/head the prior week. The gains were driven by another firming in the choice beef cutout, which rose to $392.85/cwt, while fed cattle prices were largely stable. The resulting expansion in the spread between wholesale beef values and cattle input costs continued to support packer profitability following the sharp recovery seen in mid-March. Margins have now returned to positive territory but remain sensitive to further movements in fed cattle pricing. Southern Plains feedlot placement margins ...