Ontario fed cattle volume and prices were down last week from a year ago.
Marketings were down 80 head on the week and almost 240 on the same time last year.
The average fed steer price was down just over 2 dollars on the week, close to 30 dollars on a year ago.
The average fed heifer price was up 1.37 on the week but still just over 21 dollars lower than last year.
Beef Farmers of Ontario reports more than 200 more cull cows sold in the province last week that the week before.
However, that's still over 700 fewer than the same week last year.
The average price was down just over 3 dollars on the week, over 27 dollars lower than last year.
And BFO reports a lighter run of replacement cattle sold in the province last week.
Volume was down over 900 on the week and more than 13 hundred fewer than the same week last year.
By the end of the week the heavier weight replacements were selling steady to slightly higher with the lighter weight animals active and steady.
=== 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 December 17, 2015 There were 548 fed steers and heifers sold through Ontario auction markets this week down 80 head from last week and 239 less than last year at this time. Fed steers and heifers sold from $141.34-$158.52 with a weekly weighted average price of $150.91 down $2.10 from last week and $29.34 below year ago prices. More medium quality cattle were noted in the fed steer category. Fed heifers sold from $146.98-$158.03 averaging $152.72 up $1.37 from last week but $21.03 lower than last year at this time. Auction markets reported active trading with demand stronger and prices starting out the week steady, then $1.00 to slightly higher by midweek and ending the week on Thursday at steady to firm prices.
Ontario railgrade prices dropped $1.00 off of the top end of the range the previous Friday and have held fully steady since that time. Steers started out at $254.00-$257.00 dressed the previous Friday, dropped to $254.00-$256.00 on Monday and held at that price for the remainder of the week. Heifers followed the same pricing trend starting out at $253.00-$256.00 dressed, down to $253.00-$255.00 on Monday and held steady. This week's prices averaged $3.25 lower than last week and $44.50 lower than last year at this time. Last year during the week ending December 5th was the first time that the railgrade price had hit the $300.00 mark.
The cull cow market met a mixed demand this week with auctions reporting the good quality cows trading actively at prices steady to fully steady, while medium quality, canners and leaner types all sold from barely steady to under pressure, with prices at least $1.00-$2.00 lower. 2,720 cows were sold through auction markets this week which is 209 more than last week but 722 less than last year at this time. Prices ranged from $64.37-$88.43 with a weekly weighted average price of $76.73 down $3.06 from last week, and $27.15 below year ago prices.
A lighter run of 4,582 replacement cattle sold through auction markets this week down 961 from last week and 1,311 less than last year at this time. Auction market reports started out this reporting period with all weights and classes steady to lower. By midweek demand was selective with yearlings steady to $2.00-$3.00 lower and calves steady to slightly higher. By the end of the week heavier weight cattle were selling steady to slightly higher, with lighter weight cattle active and steady. Actual average prices this week for steers 400-500 lbs averaged $8.77 higher than last week, 500-600 lbs were up $4.24, 600-700 lb steers down $2.51, 700-800 lbs down $6.48, 800-900 lbs down $1.28, 900-1000 lbs down $3.10 and steers over 1000 lbs averaged $0.50 lower than last week, on average. Heifers 300-400 lbs were up $24.61 from last week on average, 400-500 lbs down $1.39, 500-600 lbs up $4.58, 600-700 lbs up $10.89, 700-800 lbs up $3.85, 800-900 lbs up $9.82 and heifers over 900 lbs averaged $2.17 lower than last week's average prices.
The Quebec Electronic Market this week was reported from $253.50-$254.25 for both steers and heifers, averaging $1.52 stronger than last week.
Alberta direct trade was very quiet again this week. Canfax reports: "The market tone is generally steady but weekly sale volumes may be too thin to establish a price trend."
The US cash cattle trade the week ending December 10th, as reported by the USDA Mandatory Price Report, saw lives sales from $112.00-$122.00 with steers averaging $118.15 down $5.24 from the previous week, while heifers averaged $117.90 down $5.40. On the rail trade ranged from $184.00-$188.00 dressed with steers averaging $187.10 down $6.75 from the previous week, while heifers averaged $187.30 down $7.18. This week trade was moderate to active on Wednesday and Thursday with sales marked from $117.00-$118.00 live in the south, which is steady to last week on average, but actually $1.00-$2.00 lower than the average in the southern states. Business in the north this week has ranged from $183.00-$185.00 dressed which is $2.00-$4.00 lower than last week on average. The US has noted at 8-10lb drop in carcass weights for the week ending Dec 5th. At time of reporting Friday noon, both live and feeder cattle contracts were up the limit very early in the game today and are still locked there at noon, as a result, the cash market is quiet with just a couple of bids in the north at $184.00 dressed. Although a few clean up deals were expected today, that probably will not be the case if the futures hold their position.
Jamie Gamble, Market Information Coordinator, Beef Farmers of Ontario.
