Very light receipts with large volumes of second cut fed cattle pressured average prices lower across the province last week.
Volumes were light because of the holiday shortened week and some auctions closed completely for the week.
Fed cattle sales volume was down 366 head from the previous week and 583 below a year ago.
The average fed steer price was down 3.38 on the week and almost 28 dollars from 2014.
The average fed heifer price was down 1.73 on the week and just over 21 dollars on the year.
Cull cow sales were down just over a thousand head from the previous week and about 15 hundred fewer than last year.
The average price was up 1.82 on the week, over 23 dollars lower on the year.
Beef Farmers of Ontario reports about 25 hundred replacement cattle sold through auction markets last week.
That's about 23 hundred fewer than the week before and about 28 hundred fewer than the same week last year.
According to BFO, auction markets reported a very strong demand with calves selling steady to stronger and yearlings steady to 5 to 10 dollars higher.
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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 December 22, 2015
Due to the Christmas holiday this report runs for 6 days instead of 7 and sale volumes are light as some auctions have closed for the holidays. There were 240 fed steers and heifers sold through Ontario auction markets this week down 366 head from last week and 583 less than last year at this time. Fed steers and heifers sold from $137.46-$157.83 averaging $149.74 down $3.38 from last week and $27.87 less than one year ago. It is important to note that very light receipts with larger volumes of second cut cattle have pressured average prices lower as seen in the pricing ranges. The week actually ended with prices ranging in the 160.00's for both steers and heifers. Fed heifers sold from $145.35-$156.59 averaging $150.84 down $1.73 from last week and $21.08 below year ago prices. Auction market reports started out as steady to firm and ended this reporting period up $3.00-$5.00 on very light receipts.
Ontario railgrade prices saw $1.00 tacked on to the top end of the range the previous Friday then pulled back to a steady range. Steers started out at $254.00-$257.00 dressed the previous Friday, on Monday prices were $254.00-$256.00 and held steady for the remainder. Heifers followed the same trend starting out at $253.00-$256.00 dressed the previous Friday, to $253.00-$255.00 on Monday, holding steady. This week's average prices are fully steady to last week but $45.50 below this time last year.
1,717 cull cows were on offer at auction markets this week down 1,060 from last week and 1,597 less than one year ago. Cull cows traded from $70.10-$88.40 averaging $78.88, up $1.82 from last week and $23.73 lower than this time last year. Auction markets reported a very strong demand with prices anywhere from $1.00-$5.00 higher.
Very light receipts of 2,569 replacement cattle sold through auction markets this week, down 2,355 from last week and 2,885 less than this time last year. Volumes of steers over 800 lbs was very limited with majority of steers sold between 400-800 lbs. Heifer sales were fairly even in all weight categories over 400 lbs. Auction markets reported a very strong demand this week with calves selling steady to stronger and yearlings steady to $5.00-$10.00 higher. Actual average prices this week for steers 400-500 lbs averaged $15.07 higher than last week, 500-600 lbs were up $12.72, 600-700 lbs up $7.89, 700-800 lbs up $10.03, 800-900 lbs up $14.95 (73 hd), 900-1000 lbs up $0.29 (79 hd) and steers over 1000 lbs averaged $18.94 lower than last week on average with just 46 head on offer. Heifers 300-400 lbs averaged $4.46 higher than last week, 400-500 lbs up $10.12, 500-600 lbs up $6.98, 600-700 lbs up $15.85, 700-800 lbs up $10.96, 800-900 lbs up $6.70 and heifers over 900 lbs averaged $11.74 stronger than last week on average.
The Quebec Electronic Market for this week was not available at time of reporting.
Alberta direct trade the week ending Dec 17th was very light with prices slightly higher. Canfax reported steers selling from $257.75-$258.00 dressed, up $1.38 from last week on average, while heifers sold at $157.50 live and $258.00-$258.50 dressed, up $2.28 on average. There has been no trade reported for this week with limited sales expected.
The US cash cattle trade the week ending Dec 17th, as reported by the USDA Mandatory Price Report, saw live sales range from $113.00-$118.00 with steers averaging $116.64 down $1.51 from the previous week, while heifers averaged $116.66 live down $1.24. Business on the rail ranged from $179.00-$185.00 dressed, with steers averaging $183.44 down $3.66 from the previous week, while heifers averaged $183.40 dressed, down $3.90. This week some light trade developed in the south on Tuesday with prices from $120.00-$124.00 live with steers averaging $123.20 live up $6.56 on average while heifers averaged $123.29 up $6.63 from last week. Today, bids are sitting at $124.00 live in the south, up $7.00 from last week, with no trade reported. Bids in the north are from $196.00-$198.00 dressed with only a couple of pens sold in Iowa at $196.00 dressed, up $13.00 from last week on average. Active trading is expected to develop at some point this afternoon with asking prices sitting at $130.00 live in the south and $200.00-$202.00 dressed in the north! Jamie Gamble, Market Information Coordinator, Beef Farmers of Ontario.
