Tyson Foods, the Arkansas‑based packer, posted a surprising rebound in the first quarter, turning a $7 million loss into a $260 million profit on a like‑period basis. Analysts had expected only $78 cents per share; the company delivered $87 cents on an adjusted basis, buoyed by higher margins in its chicken segment while its beef arm struggled with rising feed costs in the last quarter.

Cattle scarcity has pushed feed prices up, a trend that is expected to persist for at least two more years, according to industry insiders. Tyson’s beef division posted a $240 million loss in the second fiscal quarter, a $18 million increase over the same period last year, even as its average beef price climbed nearly 12 percent while volumes slipped 13 percent in the.

The contrast between Tyson’s chicken and beef profitability signals a shifting cost structure for U.S. meatpackers. While poultry margins remain resilient, the beef segment faces a double whammy of higher input costs and shrinking demand. Investors will now focus on how the company balances its product mix and whether cattle price pressures will erode future earnings in recent months.