Ontario fed cattle volumes were up a bit last week while cull cow and replacement marketings were down.
Beef Farmers of Ontario reports fed steer prices were down about a dollar 50 on the week and almost 50 dollars on the year.
Fed heifers averaged almost a dollar higher on the week and just over 42 dollars lower on the year.
Cull cow prices were up 76 cents on the year and over 36 dollars below a year ago.
Grass type replacement cattle ended the week steady to barely steady while heavier weights were steady to lower.
Kevin Greer is quoted in this week's BFO report as noting demand for boxed beef in Canada has improved - but it's still very small in volume.
Greer's Canadian Boxed Beef market report says only five out of the nine major grocers featured beef for the week of April 14th to the 20th - and all those features were for ground beef.
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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 April 21, 2016 543 fed steers and heifers sold through auction markets this week up 57 from last week and 29 less that this time last year. Fed steers traded from $137.43-$155.56 averaging $149.03 down $1.46 from last week and $49.85 below year ago prices. The average weight this week was 1,594 lbs down 20 lbs from last week but 30 lbs more than last year at this time. Heifers sold from $138.56-$159.55 averaging $150.58 up $0.91 from last week and $42.23 lower than this time last year. Heifer's average weight this week was 1,383 lbs down 28 lbs from last week and just 1 lb heavier than this time last year. Auction markets reported trade as under pressure with prices $2.00-$3.00 cwt lower than last week. By mid-week the market was under pressure at easier prices on the medium quality and heavier lots, with fancy cattle bringing premiums, but ended the week down $1.00-$2.00 cwt.
The Ontario railgrade market started out $2.00-$3.00 lower than last week's price range with steers trading from $266.00-$270.00 dressed and heifers from $265.00-$269.00. Prices held fully steady for the entire week with delivery anywhere from this week to the week of May 23rd. By the end of this reporting period, one packer had pulled their bid. This week's average prices are $3.75 lower than last week and $65.50 below last year at this time.
The Canadian Boxed Beef market reported by Kevin Greer notes that demand in Canada has improved but is still very small in volume. "Distributors are staying very short bought, as usual, but they are in the market more than in the last few months. The purchases are now frequent but small instead of infrequent and small. AA loins are wiped out in Canada but there is AAA loin product to be had. Ribs and almost all of the outside cuts are readily available. With that noted, the ends are going south or to the grinder." For the week of April 14-20th, only five out of the nine major grocers featured beef and all features were ground beef.
Lighter receipts of 2,128 cull cows sold through auction markets this week down 309 from last week but 286 more that the same time last year. Cull cows sold from $73.42-$98.11 averaging $85.14 up $0.76 from last week, but $36.42 below this time last year. Auction markets reported trade steady with just one report of barely steady, on a good demand. By week's end beef breeds were trading $3.00-$5.00 cwt higher with dairy breeds up $2.00-$3.00 cwt on a good active trade.
Light receipts of replacement cattle sold through auction markets this week totalling 4,256 head, down 1,090 from last week and 1,191 less that this time last year. Auction markets reported grass types from barely steady to $5.00 to $10.00 higher early week, with one report of up to $15.00 cwt, but as the week progressed the market was steady to barely steady. Heavier weights started out barely steady to steady, to $5.00 higher on one report, but as the week progressed the market was steady to under pressure and ended the week steady to lower. Actual average prices this week for steers 400-500 lbs was up $4.86 from last week on average, 500-600 lbs up $0.68, 600-700 lbs down $4.68, 700-800 lbs down $7.43, 800-900 lbs down $3.33, 900-1000 lbs down $8.48 and steers over 1000 lbs averaged $9.49 below last week on average. Heifers 300-400 lbs were up $40.51 on average (only 30 head), 400-500 lbs up $21.00, 500-600 lbs down $5.47, 600-700 lbs down $9.60, 700-800 lbs up $ 4.56, 800-900 lbs down $3.74 and heifers over 600 lbs averaged $2.71 below last week on average.
The Quebec Electronic Market this week sold from $258.50-$262.50 down $4.19 from last week on average.
The Alberta cash cattle trade was reported by Canfax as very light with dressed sales $3.00-$5.00 cwt lower than last week from $272.00-$277.00 delivered, with varying delivery dates. Canfax notes that some clean up trade is possible today.
The U.S. cash cattle trade for the week ending April 14th, (reported by the USDA Mandatory Price Report) saw live sales over the week range from $132.00-$136.00 with steers averaging $133.99 live up $0.09 from the week before, while heifers averaged $133.91 live down $0.02. On the rail prices ranged from $208.00-$216.00 dressed with steers averaging $213.98 down $0.83 from the previous week, while heifers averaged $313.70 down $0.70. This week the market has been very quiet as the cattle futures were under pressure and continue to see triple digit losses today. At time of reporting Friday noon, a few sales have surfaced at $127.00 live in the south down $7.00 from last week's weighted average, while a couple of sales in the north are down $14.00 cwt on average at $200.00 dressed. Trade volume should improve as the day progresses but active trade will likely be delayed until after the Cattle on Feed Report is released this afternoon. Jamie Gamble, Market Information Coordinator, Beef Farmers of Ontario.
