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What is
Livestock Gross Margin?

Managing risk can be confusing, complicated, and unpredictable. Where do you start? What are your options?

What is Livestock Gross Margin?

Livestock Gross Margin (LGM) is a Federal Crop Insurance Corporation-based insurance program which guarantees that you’ll receive a certain gross margin for your herd at the end of an 11-month insurance period. It factors the market value of your herd minus the costs of feeder cattle and feed.

How Can LGM Protect Your Operation?

No one can predict what tomorrow’s market will be, but LGM offers security by protecting cattle producers against unexpected changes in cattle prices and feed costs. LGM secures your operation’s profit by accounting for the expected price margin between your cattle’s market value and the cost of feed.

Why Should you Choose LGM?

Top Benefits of LGM Coverage

Protect Your Margin from Above

LGM insurance protects your bottom line from fluctuations in prices and feed costs, which can seriously impact your profit. LGM provides a safety net against sudden market risks. By providing a guaranteed minimum profit margin, LGM helps you improve your cash flow and provides you peace of mind.

And Below

Get Flexibility in Your Coverage

LGM insurance plans are an affordable and accessible risk management solution for many producers. Its flexible options allow you to customize and select coverage options to meet your individual needs.

LGM’s options include:

  • Customizable timeframes
  • Flexible coverage levels
  • Standalone policies, or policies that work alongside other risk management tools such a futures contracts and LRP

Each producer has different risk management needs. When you choose Stockguard for LGM, we’ll work together to tailor your coverage to match your risk tolerance, budget, and needs.

What is the difference between LGM and LRP?

Whereas LGM covers the price of the gross margin per head, LRP uses the Chicago Mercantile Exchange’s contract prices to insure the price of sold livestock. While LRP is typically a better fit for cow-calf operations, LGM is the preferred option for most feedlot operations.

LGM VS CME Contracts

Livestock Gross Margin (LGM) insurance and CME contracts are two different tools that are used by cattle producers to manage risk in the cattle market. Here are some differences between the two:

LGM:

  • Covers the expected profit margin
  • Insures against the risk of declining cattle prices or increased feed costs
  • Requires a premium payment
  • Premiums are subsidized by the government
  • Flexible coverage periods
  • Customizable coverage plans based on your needs
  • Pays out based on the difference between the expected profit margin and the actual profit margin

CME:

  • Covers the actual price 
  • Only covers the risk of declining cattle prices
  • Requires upfront payment of the full contract value
  • No subsidies
  • Fixed expiration dates
  • Standardized contracts with limited options
  • Pays out based on the difference between the contract price and the current market price

Overall, LGM insurance and CME contracts are two different tools that cattle producers can use to manage risk in the cattle market. LGM insurance provides protection against declines in cattle prices and increases in feed costs, while CME contracts provide protection only against declines in cattle prices.

Getting Started with LGM

To get started with LGM today, you must connect with an authorized insurance representative to select the right coverage options for you. Protecting your operation against sudden market changes doesn’t need to be difficult, and Stockguard is here to help. We’ll help you choose the right insurance plans and work with you to protect your herd.

We know things can get complicated so let's break it down!

Select Options

Place Order

Guard your investment

Example

In September 2015, an Oklohoma producer buys LGM – Yearling Finishing insurance coverage to market 100 head in March 2016

  • Insurance period is October 2015 through August 2016
  • Deductible selected is $10/head
  • Producer pays a premium of $85/head
  • Expected Gross Margin for March is $130.80/head

Example from  “Livestock Gross Margin & Livestock Risk Protection.” Oklahoma State University

You can find the needed information in regard to the coverage listed on the RMA website or through our portal at portal.stockguard.io

Remember – finishing yearlings is designed for 750-pound feeder cattle to be finished to 1,250 pounds, and uses a fixed corn amount of 50 bushels.

How to Calculate Expected Gross Margin

Expected Gross Margin = (12.5 x FedCattle$) – (7.5 x FeederCattle$) – (50bu x Corn$)

Expected Gross Margin equals 12.5 (with the 12.5 representing the finished weight of 1250 pounds) times the futures price of Fed Cattle  minus 7.5 (with 7.5 representing 750 pound beginning weight) times the futures price of feeder cattle minus 50 bushel corn times the futures corn price.

Gross Margin and Indemnities

RMA calculates Actual Gross Margin of $7.43/head

Indemnity (per head) = ((Expected Gross Margin – Deductible) – Actual Gross Margin)

= (($130.80 – $10 ) – $7.43) = $113.37

Total Indemnity = $113 x 100 head = $11,300

Total Premium = $85 x 20 head = $85,00

Total net gain = $11,300 – $8,500 = $2,800

In March the producer markets 100 head. In this situation the actual gross margin is calculated at $7.43/head and the producer will be entitled to an indemnity calculated as shown below:

Indemnity/head equals the expected Gross Margin of $130.80 minus the deductible selected by the producer of $10 minus the actual gross margin of $7.43, totaling an indemnity of $113.37 per head. Of course when producers are calculating their risk the cost of the premium must be considered. In this example the producer had 100 head and will receive an indemnity of $11,300. However the cost of the premium was $85/head for a total of $8500 leaving a net gain of $2,800 or $28/head.

Leave the number crunching to us

To see and analyze options for LGM check out our portal where we do all the math for you. Analyze, track, and manage your options anytime, any place.