Ontario cattle slaughter volumes have been picking up since the middle of August.
Beef Farmers of Ontario says the weekly numbers are now mostly steady to the last two years when comparing on a week to week basis, year to year.
However, total federally-inspected slaughter volumes in the province to the end of August were down over 35 thousand head from a year ago and almost 35 thousand head fewer than two years ago.
Exports of fed cattle to the U-S through Ontario ports so far this year is down about 6 thousand head from a year ago.
Cull cow exports are down about 12 hundred head.
Fed cattle marketings in Ontario last week were up about 60 head on the week, down 20 from a year ago.
The average fed steer price was down about 3 dollars on the week, the average fed heifer price down over 8 dollars.
Both were about 24 dollars stronger than last year.
Cull cow marketings were down 93 head on the week but 160 more than a year ago.
The average price was down almost 6 dollars on the week and almost 5 dollars higher than a year ago.
Replacement marketings in Ontario last week were down just over 600 on the week and over 500 fewer than the same week last year.
BFO says auction markets reported active trading on good demand with prices holding steady, quality considered.
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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 September 10, 2015
There were 430 fed steers and heifers sold through Ontario auction markets this week, up 61 head from last week and 20 less than last year at this time. Fed steers sold from $173.09-$186.07 averaging $181.78 down $3.13 from last week on average and $24.07 stronger than last year at this time. Fed heifers sold from $164.33-$184.29 averaging $177.97 down $8.71 from last week and $24.44 stronger than year ago prices. Auction market reported that the market was under pressure with prices anywhere from $2.00-$5.00 lower. A few extra fancy singles were reported as strong with steers topping the market at $203.50 and heifers $215.00.
The Ontario railgrade market continued under pressure again this week with steers averaging $4.00 lower and heifers $3.75 lower than last week. Steers started out trading from $308.00-$314.00 dressed, down to $304.00-$309.00 on Tuesday and ended this reporting period at $302.00-$309.00 dressed. Heifers started out at $307.00-$313.00 dressed, down to $303.00-$308.00 on Tuesday and held for Wednesday. This week's average prices are $36.00 stronger than last year at this time, on average.
Ontario Federally Inspected Slaughter volumes as of August 29, 2015 total 339,569 head, down 35,557 from the same time in 2014 and 34,427 less than August 29, 2013. Since the week ending August 15, 2015, weekly slaughter volumes have increased and are mostly steady to the last two years when comparing on a week to week basis, year to year.
Exports of fed steers and heifers to the US through Ontario ports as of August 22, 2015 total 20,336 head down 6,089 head from August 22, 2014 and 8,861 less than the same time in 2013. Cull cow exports to the US through Ontario ports as of August 22, 2015 total 67,917 head, down 1,253 from August 22, 2014 and 15,817 less than the same time in 2013.
The cull cow market was under considerable pressure this week with 2,141 head sold through auction markets, down 93 head from last week but 160 more than last year at this time. Cull cows ranged from $87.47-$120.07 averaging $104.53 down $5.87 from last week and just $4.94 stronger than year ago prices. All auction markets reported trade as under pressure, although trade was active. Prices were reported as easier with sales down $2.00-$4.00 for most of the week. By week's end the beef cows were down $5.00-$7.00 cwt and dairy cows down $5.00 cwt on average.
Light receipts of replacement cattle were noted this week with just 2,751 head sold through auction markets, down 616 from last week and 515 less than last year at this time. Auction markets reported active trading on good demand with prices holding steady, with quality considered. There was one report of $2.00-$3.00 higher mid-week. Actual average prices this week for steers 400-500 lbs averaged $10.84 lower than last week, 500-600 lbs were up $4.55, 600-700 lbs down $7.33, 700-800 lbs up $11.41, 800-900 lbs down $1.88, 900-1000 lbs down $0.41 and steers over 1000 lbs averaged $0.12 stronger than last week on average. Heifers weighing 300-400 lbs averaged $2.46 lower than last week, 400-500 lbs up $3.90, 500-600 lbs up $9.27, 600-700 lbs down $6.52, 700-800 lbs up $2.04, 800-900 lbs up $4.09 and heifers over 900 lbs averaged $17.99 lower than last week.
The Quebec Electronic Market saw prices decline this week with steers and heifers reported from $294.00-$299.25 dressed, down $5.94 from last week on average.
Alberta direct trade was light with dressed sales steady to $2.71 lower than last week on average. Canfax reported steers at $182.50 live and $294.50-$298.50 on the rail, while heifers sold at $182.50 live and $297.00-$298.50 on the rail. Canfax noted: "Premiums were being paid for cattle that could be delivered for the end of October. All reported cash sales have been purchased by local buyers while US interest was non-existent. Western Canadian carcass weights continue to grow and the argument could be made feedlots are losing currentness." The US cash cattle trade for the week ending September 2nd averaged $2.50-$3.00 lower on a live basis and $5.30-$5.80 lower dressed, on average. The USDA Mandatory Price Report saw live sales from $139.00-$144.00 with steers averaging $141.75 down from $144.86 the previous week, while heifers averaged $142.53 down from $145.20. On the rail prices ranged from $220.00-$225.00 with steers averaging $222.09 dressed down from $227.39 the previous week while heifers averaged $222.07 down from $227.89. This week some light to moderate trade surfaced in the north on Thursday with prices reported as steady to $2.00 lower from $218.00-$222.00 dressed and $139.00-$142.00 live. At time of reporting, Friday noon, a few sales in the north have surfaced at $219.00 dressed. Bids are sitting at $138.00-$141.00 live and $218.00-$220.00 dressed while asking prices are $146.00-$147.00 live in the south and $224.00 dressed in the north. Active trading should surface at any time, but it appears that the market tone has been set.
Jamie Gamble, Market Information Coordinator, Beef Farmers of Ontario.
