Ontario federal and provincial slaughter volumes for the first half of this year were down considerably from last year.
Beef Farmers of Ontario reports that as of the end of June, steer slaughter was 166 thousand 625 head.
73 thousand 3 hundred and 33 head of fed heifers were slaughtered in that same period.
The steer volume was down more than 21 thousand from 2014 and almost 14 thousand fewer than in 2013.
The heifer volume was over 11 thousand lower than 2014 and just over 15 thousand fewer than in 2013.
Cull cow slaughter volumes - at just over 32 thousand head - were down almost 15 thousand from 2014 and over 16 thousand fewer than in 2013.
BFO says 510 fed cattle were sold in the province last week - down 82 on the week and almost 260 fewer than last year.
Fed steer prices were down almost 3 dollars on the week but over 26 dollars higher than last year.
Fed heifer prices were down 15 cents on the week and over 33 dollars higher on the year.
Cull cow marketings were down almost 100 head from last year and 147 more than last year.
Average prices were up 9 cents on the week and just over 14 dollars on the year.
The almost 22 hundred head of replacements sold in Ontario last week were down 29 from the previous week but 181 more than a year ago.
Over half the replacements sold were over 900 pounds.
Average prices were lower in 3 of the 7 fed steer weight categories and in 4 of the 7 fed heifer categories.
Weekly Cattle Comments - As Supplied by Beef Farmers of Ontario Toll free: 1-866-370-2333 or Local: (519) 824-0334 Fax: (519) 824-9161 Email: markets@ontariobeef.com
Comments for the week ending July 16, 2015 There were 510 fed steers and heifers sold through auction markets this week down 82 head from last week and 259 less than last year at this time. Fed steers ranged from $184.78-$205.78 averaging $195.77 down $2.90 from last week and $26.48 stronger than last year at this time. Fed heifers traded from $186.08-$202.68 averaging $195.32 down $0.15 from last week and $33.19 stronger than year ago prices. Auction markets reported active trading on a strong demand with prices up $1.00-$3.00, with extra fancies bringing premium prices, at the beginning of this reporting period. As the week progressed the market was active at strong prices and by the end of the week the top quality were steady with all other classes down $1.00-$2.00.
Ontario rail grade prices gained $1.00 on the top end the previous Friday, but lost $1.00 on the bottom end of the range on Monday, and held steady the remainder of the week. Steers started out at $330.00-$334.00 dressed with heifers at $329.00-$333.00. On Monday the price was reported from $329.00-$334.00 for steers and $328.00-$333.00 for heifers, with varying dates of delivery. This week's average price was fully steady to last week and $55.75 stronger than last year at this time.
There were 2,191 cull cows sold through auction markets this week down 97 head from last week and 147 more than last year at this time. Cull cows ranged from $101.87-$134.76 averaging $118.46 up $0.09 from last week and $14.03 stronger than year ago prices. Auction markets reported this week's trade as strong on good demand with prices holding steady to strong.
Ontario Federal and Provincial slaughter volumes for the first half of 2015 were down considerably from last year and 2013. Steer slaughter as of June 30, 2015 totalled 166,625 head, down 21,560 head from the same time period in 2014, and 13,783 head less than June 30, 2013. Fed heifer slaughter volumes as of June 30, 2015 totalled 73,334 head, down 11,096 from the same time period in 2014, and 15,038 less than June 30, 2013. Cull cow slaughter volumes as of June 30, 2015 totalled 32,021 head, down 14,958 head from the same time period in 2014 and 16,705 less than June 30, 2013.
Ontario warm carcass weight for steers, for the month of June 2015, averaged 909 lbs which is up 40 lbs from the same time in 2014, 48 lbs heavier than June 2013 and the highest average monthly weight for June overall. The Canadian average steer warm carcass weight for June 2015 was 850 lbs, up 25 lbs from the same month in 2014 and 9 lbs heavier than June 2013. The heaviest Canadian June average weight for steers was noted in June 2012 at 857 lbs.
Continued light receipts of 2,196 replacement cattle were on offer this week at auction markets, down 29 head from last week but 181 more than last year at this time. Auction markets reported demand as strong with prices steady to fully steady. Again this week, over one half of the cattle that sold were over 900 lbs. Actual average prices this week saw steers 400-500 lbs average $16.58 lower than last week, 500-600 lbs were down $10.67, 600-700 lbs up $13.82, 700-800 lbs up $15.68, 800-900 lbs up $21.12, 900-1000 lbs up $5.68 and steers over 1000 lbs averaged $4.22 lower than last week. Heifers 300-400 lbs were up $72.67 on average from last week, 400-500 lbs down $30.12, 500-600 lbs up $0.39, 600-700 lbs down $5.51, 700-800 lbs down $9.83, 800-900 lbs down $0.17 and heifers over 900 lbs averaged $1.76 stronger than last week on average.
The Quebec Electronic Market this week averaged $2.76 lower than last week with sales reported from $333.00-$333.50 dressed. Alberta direct trade was reported by Canfax as very light with prices another $6.00 lower. Canfax reported: "Many producers are looking for at least steady money with last week. The way things are shaping up producers will likely end up carrying cattle into next week. With fed prices on the decline we are at the point where we could start to see US inquiries."
The US cash cattle trade the week ending July 9, 2015, was light with prices fully steady. The USDA Mandatory (5 area) Price Report listed live sales from $149.00-$153.00 with steers averaging $151.00 down from $151.35 from the previous week, while heifers averaged $150.83 down from $151.34. On the rail steers and heifers traded from $238.00-$242.00 dressed with steers averaging $240.22 up from $240.09 the previous week, with heifers averaging $239.90 up from $239.26. The market this week, at time of reporting, is seeing a few sales reported in the north at $236.00 dressed, down $4.00 from last week, otherwise the market this week remains untested. Light to moderate trade is expected to surface sometime this afternoon, with asking prices sitting at $152.00 live in the south and $242.00 plus dressed in the north.
Jamie Gamble, Market Information Coordinator, Beef Farmers of Ontario.
