Ontario federal and provincial cattle slaughter volumes are lower this year than in 2014.
Beef Farmers of Ontario reports fed steer slaughter is down 8 and a half per cent, fed heifers down 21 point 8 per cent and cull cows down 23 point 2 per cent to the end of October.
Last week's fed cattle marketings in Ontario were up from both the previous week and a year ago.
The average fed steer price was up just over 2 dollars on the week but over 19 dollars lower than a year ago.
The average fed heifer price was down 19 cents on the week and almost 13 dollars lower on the year.
Ontario cull cow marketings were down on the week and from a year ago, with the average price down 3.51 on the week and over 23 dollars on the year.
Just over 67 hundred replacements were sold in the province last week.
That's down 136 from the previous week and more than 13 hundred fewer than a year ago.
BFO reports good quality local calves sold 2 to 3 dollars higher with mid-week heavier calves trading 5 to 10 dollars lower.
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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 November 26, 2015
There were 623 fed steers and heifers sold through auction markets this week up 189 head from last week and 51 more than last year at this time. Fed steers traded from $146.56-$165.81 averaging $155.71 up $2.07 from last week and $19.03 below one year ago. Fed heifers sold from $140.38-$158.99 averaging $152.58 down $0.19 from last week and $12.88 lower than year ago prices. Auction market reports started out this reporting period as steady to under pressure at slightly lower prices. By mid-week the market saw a selective demand at about steady prices, and ended the week as steady, with fancy cattle bringing further premiums with trade topping out this week at $179.50 for steers and $181.00 for heifers.
Ontario railgrade prices dropped $2.00 off the top end of the range the previous Friday and have held fully steady the entire week with steers selling from $260.00-$266.00 dressed and heifers from $259.00-$265.00 dressed. Delivery dates are reported to be anywhere from this week to the first week in December. This week's average prices are down $4.50 from last week on average and $25.00 lower than last year at this time.
Ontario Federal and Provincial slaughter volumes are lower this year with fed steers down 8.5% from October 31, 2015 YTD, fed heifer slaughter volumes down 21.8% and cull cows down 23.2% from October 31, 2014. Federal only slaughter volumes in Ontario as of November 14, 2015 totalled 459,773 head, down 42,244 head from November 14, 2014 and 40,546 less than November 14, 2013.
There were 2,737 cull cows sold through auction markets this week down 51 head from last week and 219 less than last year at this time. Cull cows sold from $65.99-$92.42 averaging $79.31 down $3.51 from last week and $23.16 lower than last year at this time. Auction markets reported this week's trade as under pressure at easier prices down anywhere from $1.00-$5.00 cwt with medium quality under further pressure. By week's end trade was holding steady.
There were 6,747 replacement cattle sold through Ontario auction markets this week down 136 head from the week before and 1,323 less than the same time last year. Auction market reports started this reporting period as selling actively but at easier prices. As the week progressed the demand was noted as selective with good quality replacements steady and good quality local calves up $2.00-$3.00. Heavy calves were also reported as trading actively at steady prices. Mid-week saw prices reported as $5.00-$10.00 lower in spots with yearlings selling higher. By the end of the week the market was steady on good quality cattle with plainer and fleshier types trading lower. Actual average prices for this week saw steers 400-500 lbs down $14.23 from last week on average, 500-600 lbs down $11.40, 600-700 lbs down $10.32, 700-800 lbs down $1.86, 800-900 lbs down $1.89, 900-1000 lbs down $2.10 and steers over 1000 lbs averaged $2.11 higher than last week on average. Heifers 300-400 lbs averaged $21.02 lower, 400-500 lbs down $9.05, 500-600 lbs down $6.62, 600-700 lbs down $5.02, 700-800 lbs down $6.59, 800-900 lbs down $5.61 and heifers over 900 lbs averaged $14.28 lower than last week on average.
The Quebec Electronic Market for this week ranged from $256.75-$258.00 dressed, down $1.29 from the previous week on average.
Alberta direct trade was reported as light with steers trading at $157.00 live and $265.00-$268.50 dressed, which was steady to the top end of last week's trade(as reported by Canfax).
The US cash cattle trade was light the week ending November 20th and did not develop until later Friday afternoon, with live sales down $1.67-$2.21 and dressed deals down $4.58-$4.74 from the previous week on average. Prices, as reported by the USDA Mandatory Price Report, saw live sales ranged from $119.00-$127.00 with steers averaging $124.83 down from $127.04 the previous week while live heifers averaged $125.25 down from $126.82. On the rail deals were reported from $190.00-$200.00 dressed with steers averaging $194.71 down from $199.29 the previous week, while heifers averaged $194.99 down from $199.73. This week, there were a handful of sales in the north on Tuesday at $195.00 dressed which is steady. A couple more surfaced on Wednesday at $195.00 dressed, but not enough sold to establish a market. The south remains untested. It was anticipated that business would have been wrapped up by Wednesday of this week as the US celebrated Thanksgiving, giving them a long weekend. However, that was not the case. Today, bids are reported in the south at $124.00 live which is slightly lower than last week's weighted average price, while the north is seeing steady bids of $195.00 dressed. At time of reporting there have been no sales reported today. Asking prices are sitting at $131.00 plus live in the south and $200.00 plus dressed in the north. Trade is expected to develop at any time. Jamie Gamble, Market Information Coordinator, Beef Farmers of Ontario.
