Fed cattle marketings are picking up in Ontario.
Almost 900 head were sold last week - up 275 from the week before and 185 more than a year ago.
The average fed steer price was down about a dollar 60 on the week and almost 15 dollars from a year ago.
Fed heifers averaged 72 cents higher on the week, 11.66 lower on the year.
The average Ontario railgrade price was 15 dollars below a year ago.
Cull cow marketings were down about 270 on the week, just over 700 on the year.
The average price was up 1.35 on the week but over 23 dollars below last year.
Replacement cattle marketings were up over 13 hundred from the week before, but still about 220 fewer than the same week in 2015.
Beef Farmers of Ontario says the replacement cattle market closed the week fully steady to strong on a good active trade.
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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 January 14, 2016 Much larger receipts of fed cattle sold through auction markets this week totaling 895 head, up 275 from last week and 185 more than last year at this time. Fed steers ranged from $163.41-$176.42 with a weekly weighted average price of $171.43, down $1.61 from last week and $14.81 below last year at this time. Heifers traded from $165.23-$176.79 averaging $171.91 up $0.72 from last week and $11.66 lower than last year at this time. Auction markets reported a good demand with active trading. Prices started out the $2.00-$3.00 higher but for the remainder of the week prices were fully steady. Fancy cattle were reported to be selling at premium prices.
The Ontario railgrade market traded on a steady tone this week with prices for steers ranging from $290.00-$292.00 dressed, averaging $291.00 up $1.00 from last week. Heifers sold from $289.00-$291.00 averaging $290.00 up $1.00 on average. Sales this week were for delivery anywhere from this week to next week, with one packer with no order for majority of this trading period. This week's average prices are $15.00 below the same time last year.
2,437 cull cows sold through auction markets this week down 272 head from last week and 714 less than last year at this time. Cull cows traded from $76.05-$104.69 averaging $90.10 up $1.35 from last week but $23.51 below last year at this time. Auction markets reported active trading with prices firm to fully steady for most of the week, until midweek when the market was to up at least $1.00-$2.00 from last week, and ended the week on a good demand at stronger prices.
Larger receipts of 3,232 replacement cattle came to market this week, up 1,385 from last week but 218 less than this time last year. Auction market reports started out this reporting period with higher prices up $5.00-$10.00 on a good demand. By midweek steer calves were $5.00-$10.00 cwt stronger with heifer calves up $5.00-$6.00, but heavier short-keep cattle sold selectively at barely steady prices. By the end of the week the market was fully steady to strong on a good active trade. Actual average prices this week (keeping in mind that last week receipts were very light) for steers 400-500 lbs were up $7.91 from last week on average, 500-600 lbs up $11.59, 600-700 lbs up $10.02, 700-800 lbs up $9.63, 800-900 lbs down $4.15, 900-1000 lbs down $3.91 and steers over 1000 lbs averaged $6.37 below than last week. Heifers 300-400 lbs were up $28.47 on average, 400-500 lbs up $18.09, 500-600 lbs up $10.60, 600-700 lbs up $12.13, 700-800 lbs up $4.86, 800-900 lbs up $48.25 (noting there were only 11 head sold last week), and heifers over 900 lbs averaged $18.86 stronger than last week on average.
The Quebec Electronic Market this week was reported from $286.00-$287.00 dressed, down $4.63 from last week on average. Alberta direct trade the week ending January 7th was higher with dressed deals reported from $292.00-$296.50 up $2.92 on average for steers and $4.27 stronger than the previous week for heifers. This week, Canfax reports that: "light trade developed with dressed sales positioned at the top end of last week's trading range. Light volumes of western Canadian fed cattle traded South with prices at a slight premium over local sales." A price report has not been established at time of reporting. The US cash cattle trade the week ending January 7th, as reported by the USDA Mandatory Price Report, saw live sales for the week ranging from $128.00-$134.00 with steers averaging $132.36 down $1.73 on average from the previous week, while heifers averaged $132.40 down $1.74. On the rail steers and heifers traded from $208.00-$212.00 dressed with steers averaging $209.75 down $1.77 from the previous week, while heifers averaged $210.06 down $1.39. This week, as reported by the USDA Mandatory Price report, live sales ranged from $130.00-$134.00 with steers averaging $133.52 and heifers $133.41, up around $1.00 from the previous week on average. Dressed deals ranged from $206.00-$214.00 with steers averaging $209.57 and heifers $210.53 which is steady to $0.50 lower on average. Thursday the cattle futures were sharply lower and are almost limit down today. This has put an end to any clean up deals that could have surfaced today. Jamie Gamble, Market Information Coordinator, Beef Farmers of Ontario.
