12 special fall stocker sales helped boost last week's overall replacement cattle sales volume in Ontario.
There were 12 thousand 6 hundred and 26 replacement sold in the province on the week - up almost 3 thousand from the week before and about 34 hundred more than a year ago.
According to Beef Farmers of Ontario, auction markets traded replacements on strong demand with prices 3 to 5 dollars higher than the week before.
Fed cattle sales were also up last week from the previous week.
560 head were sold - up almost 150 on the week but 185 fewer than a year ago.
The average fed steer price was up over 3 dollars on the week, the average heifer price up over 6 dollars.
However, that fed steer price was 3.40 lower and the heifer price 1.31 lower than year ago levels.
BFO reports over 26 hundred cull cows were sold last week - up about 140 from the previous week, almost 190 fewer than a year ago.
The average Ontario cull cow price of $90.54 was up 75 cents on the week, almost 12 dollars lower than a year ago.
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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 October 29, 2015
560 fed steers and heifers were sold through Ontario auction markets this week, up 148 head from last week and 185 less than last year at this time. Fed steers sold from $156.48-$172.37 with a weekly weighted average price of $165.57, up $3.17 from last week and $3.40 lower than last year at this time. Fed heifers ranged from $151.50-$172.30 averaging $163.84, up $6.44 from last week and $1.31 below year ago prices. Auction markets reported trade as active on a strong demand, with a good quality offering. Prices started out $2.00-$3.00 higher, improved to $3.00-$4.00 higher by mid-week and ended this week $1.00-$2.00 stronger. Extra fancy cattle were reported as bringing premium prices.
Ontario railgrade prices started out the previous Friday at higher prices of $265.00-$275.00 dressed for steers and $264.00-$274.00 for heifers. On Monday, prices increased to $270.00-$278.00 dressed for steers and $269.00-$277.00 for heifers, and held steady the remainder of the week. This week's average prices are $7.00 stronger than last week and just $7.25 lower than this time last year.
There were 2,676 cull cows sold through auction markets this week up 141 head from last week but 189 less that the same time last year. Cull cows traded from $75.43-$108.12 averaging $90.54 up $0.75 from last week and $11.77 lower than year ago prices. Auction markets reported trade as active with prices steady for most of the week. By the end of the week prices were described as mostly steady to softer, with better quality beef cows trading strong.
There were 12,626 replacement cattle sold through Ontario auction markets this week up 2,905 head from last week and 3,461 more than the same time last year. This week there were 12 special fall stocker sales, which included three calf club sales with approximately 3,000 head of pre-sorted protocol calves. Auction markets reported the lighter weights this week as trading on a strong demand with prices starting the week as stronger, up $3.00-$5.00. As the week progressed the market was steady. Heavier weights were reported as selling on a strong demand with prices $3.00-$5.00 higher early week, to steady to slightly lower as the week progressed. Actual average prices this week for steers 400-500 lbs averaged $14.17 stronger than last week, steers 500-600 lbs were up $8.56, 600-700 lbs up $11.52, 700-800 lbs up $3.76, 800-900 lbs up $1.69, 900-1000 lbs down $5.68 and steers over 1000 lbs averaged $2.15 lower than last week, on average. Heifers 300-400 lbs averaged $0.96 lower than last week, 400-500 lbs were up $6.10, 500-600 lbs up $14.05, 600-700 lbs up $6.74, 700-800 lbs down $4.03, 800-900 lbs up $4.14 and heifers over 900 lbs averaged $19.27 stronger than last week, on average.
The Quebec Electronic Market for this week was reported at $272.50 dressed, up $3.50 from last week on average.
Alberta direct trade was light this week with dressed sales reported from $285.50-$288.50 for steers and $283.50-$288.00 for heifers. Canfax reports: "Cattle that were bought this week were still being scheduled for the second half of November delivery. US packer interest was noted but no sales were reported, depending on freight and dressing percent, US bids were working back to the mid 160's on a live basis."
The US cash cattle trade the week ending October 22nd (as reported by the USDA Mandatory Price Report) was stronger once again. Live sales averaged $2.43 stronger for steers and $1.11 higher for heifers. Dressed deals saw steers average $3.51 higher while heifers were up $4.48. Lives sales ranged from $130.00-$140.00 with steers averaging $135.38 up from $132.95 the previous week, while heifers averaged $135.71 up from $134.60. On the rail sales ranged from $205.00-$218.00 dressed with steers averaging $208.49 up from $204.98 the previous week, while heifers averaged $209.59 up from $205.11. This week, some light to moderate trade surfaced on Tuesday with prices steady to slightly stronger. Business in the south was from $130.00-$139.00 live averaging $136.84 for steers and $136.52 for heifers. Northern deals were light with sales from $206.00-$219.00 dressed, averaging $209.27 for steers and $207.51 for heifers. Wednesday the market remained untested. At time of reporting Friday noon, a couple of sales have been reported in the north at $210.00 dressed. Business is expected to pick up as the afternoon progresses, with asking prices sitting at $140.00-$142.00 live and $215.00 dressed.
Jamie Gamble, Market Information Coordinator, Beef Farmers of Ontario.
