The number of cattle processed federally in Ontario so far this year is up almost 19 thousand head from a year ago.
Beef Farmers of Ontario reports fed cattle exports to the U-S through Ontario ports are up about 46 hundred head from a year ago while cull cow exports the U-S are up almost 7 thousand head.
Fed cattle sales volumes were up in Ontario last week, and so were the prices.
BFO reports fed steer prices were up over 2 dollars, fed heifers over 4 dollars from the week before.
Both were still over 40 dollars lower than a year ago.
Cull cow marketings were down slightly last week, with the average price up 4 cents on the week, down over 33 dollars from last year.
Stocker and feeder cattle sales volume was down over 500 head last week.
Good quality calf prices ended the week slightly stronger while medium quality calves were under pressure at 5 to 10 dollars lower.
Good quality short keep yearlings were steady to 1 to 2 dollars higher while the medium quality second cut cattle were under pressure with prices 2 to 3 dollars lower.
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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 Thursday, August 4, 2016
Slightly larger receipts of 427 fed steers and heifers sold through auction markets this week up 60 head from last week and just 5 less than last year at this time. Fed steers sold from $142.64-$153.62 averaging $148.98 up $2.74 from last week and $40.11 below year ago prices. Fed heifers traded from $138.01-$151.76 averaging $145.85 up $4.41 from last week and $44.23 lower than last year at this time. Auction market reports started out with a good demand and prices strong to $4.00-$5.00 higher in spots. As the week progressed trade went from strong, to slightly easier on the good quality cattle, with all others trading lower. A few extra fancy cattle brought premium prices. The market ended the week on a steady note, with active trading.
The Ontario railgrade market started out the week with a $5.00 cwt boost to the bottom end of the range. Steers started out this week at $243.00-$250.00 dressed, but by Monday prices were up again to $248.00-$252.00 dressed, and held steady the remainder of the week. Heifers followed the same trend starting out at $242.00-$249.00 dressed, to $247.00-$251.00 by Monday and held fully steady. This week's average prices were up $5.25 from last week and $74.50 below last year at this time. Delivery on cattle sold this week ranged from this week to the second week in August.
As of July 23, 2016 the volume of cattle processed federally in Ontario totaled 307,531 head, which is up 18,892 head from the same time in 2015, but 13,444 less than July 23, 2014. Exports of fed cattle to the U.S. through Ontario ports, as of July 16, 2016, totals 22,159 head, up 4,618 from the same time in 2015, but 1,249 less than the same time in 2014. Cull cow exports to the U.S. through Ontario ports, as of July 16, 2016, total 64,770 head, up 6,905 head from the same time and 2015 and 3,605 more than this time in 2014.
There were 1,780 cull cows sold through auction markets this week down 176 head from last week and 394 less than the same time last year. Cull cows sold from $69.93-$95.97 averaging $82.27 up $0.04 from last week and $33.09 below year ago prices. Auction market reports started out steady to higher. By midweek prices were mostly to barely steady, but ended this trading period selling on a steady trade.
Lighter receipts of 2,241 stocker and feeder cattle sold through auction market this week, down 514 from last week and 153 more than this time last year. Auction markets reported good quality calves as selling on an active trade at steady prices and ended the week slightly stronger. Medium quality calves were under pressure with prices down $5.00-$10.00, with one report of up to $20.00 cwt lower. Good quality short keep/yearlings sold on a brisk demand with prices steady to $1.00-$2.00 higher, while medium quality/second cut cattle sold under pressure at prices $2.00-$3.00 cwt lower. Actual average prices this week saw steers 400-500 lbs down $10.83 from last week on average, 500-600 lb steers were down $12.20, 600-700 lbs down $10.14, 700-800 lbs up $6.26, 800-900 lbs up $3.56, 900-1000 lbs down $1.02, with steers over 1000 lbs averaging $1.44 stronger than last week on average. Heifers from 300-400 lbs averaged $30.49 lower than last week on average with extremely light volume, 400-500 lbs down $11.32, 500-600 lbs down $3.27, 600-700 lbs down $0.93, 700-800 lbs down $4.19, 800-900 lbs up $1.00 and heifers over 900 lbs averaged $0.86 lower than last week on average.
The Quebec Electronic Market for this week ranged from $246.75-$248.50 dressed, up $3.97 from last week on average.
Alberta direct trade this week, reported by Canfax, saw live steers trading at $149.50. On the rail both steers and heifers sold from $243.00-$248.00 dressed, down $1.00 from last week on average. Canfax noted: "The majority of cattle that sold this week were being scheduled for the second half of August delivery."
The US cash trade for the week ending July 29th, did not develop until Friday afternoon, with moderate volumes. Live sales ranged from $114.00-$118.00, with steers averaging $117.00, up $2.36 from the previous week, while heifers averaged $116.64 up $1.86. On the rail steers sold from $184.00-$188.00 dressed with steers averaging $186.08 up $1.33, while heifers averaged $186.06 up $1.61 from the week before. This week, the cattle futures have seen some improvement, which has encouraged sellers to bump up asking prices and hold firm. Light to moderate trade surfaced on Thursday at higher prices. Sales in the south ranged from $116.00-$120.00 live, averaging $118.94 for steers and $118.85 for heifers, up almost $2.00 from last week on average. In the north dressed deals ranged from $186.00-$190.00, with steers averaging $187.92 and heifers $187.66, also up around $2.00 from last week on average. Today a couple of sales have been noted in the north at $187.00 dressed, otherwise the market is fairly quiet. Asking prices on the remaining cattle are $120.00-$122.00 live in the south and $192.00 plus dressed in the north.
Jamie Gamble, Market Information Coordinator, Beef Farmers of Ontario.
