Another week of new high average prices for Ontario cattle last week.
Beef Farmers of Ontario reports fed steers averaged 180.25, fed heifers 173.75.
Both are new weekly high averages.
For steers, that's up 1.92 from last week and over 58 dollars better than a year ago.
For heifers, it's up 2.30 from the previous week, over 46 dollars higher.
Ontario railgrade prices also set a weekly high average - up 2.75 from the previous week and almost 86 dollars better than a year ago.
There was a continued strong demand for replacement cattle in Ontario last week.
Good quality cattle sold up 2 to 3 dollars in spots while medium quality were under pressure at 4 to 5 dollars lower in spots.
Beef Farmers of Ontario reports almost 59 hundred head of replacements were sold on the week - down just over a thousand from the previous week, about 650 fewer than a year ago.
As of December 11th, BFO says over 257 thousand stockers have moved through Ontario auction markets, year to date.
That's down just over 9 thousand from the same period in 2013 - more than 23 thousand fewer than in 2012.
=== Weekly Cattle Comments As Supplied by Beef Farmers of Ontario Ph: Toll free: 1-866-370-2333 or (519) 824-0334 Fax: (519) 824-9161 Email: markets@ontariobeef.com Comments for the week ending December 11, 2014 A larger run of 787 fed steers and heifers sold through auction markets this week up 320 from last week and 333 more than last year at this time. Fed steers traded from $171.38-$187.63 averaging $180.25 up $1.92 from last week and $58.54 stronger than the same time last year. Fed heifers sold from $161.33-$183.31 averaging $173.75 up $2.30 from last week and $46.53 stronger than year ago prices. Both steers and heifers saw a new weekly average price again this week. Auction markets all reported a very strong demand with prices steady to $2.00-$3.00 higher.
Ontario rail grade prices improved early week and then held steady. Steers started out at $298.00-$300.00 dressed the previous Friday, increasing to $298.00-$302.00 on Monday and have held firm at this price range the remainder of the week. Heifers followed the same pricing trend starting out at $297.00-$299.00 dressed and ending the week at $297.00-$301.00. This week's average price also set a new weekly average and is up $2.75 from last week and $85.75 stronger than last year at this time. The prices reported are prices of sales made that day for the cash market, regardless of delivery dates, and does not include contract pricing.
Ontario warm carcass weights for steers the month of November, in Federally and Provincially Inspected Plants, reached a new monthly average weight of 941 lbs, up from 928 in October and 908 for September, equalling a 33 lb increase over the last three months. The Canadian average warm carcass weight for steers was 907 lbs in November, up from 906 in October and 882 in September, with a 25 lb increase over the last three months.
There were 3,442 cull cows sold through auction markets this week down 32 head from last week and 717 less than last year at this time. Cull cows sold from $84.37-$121.17 averaging $103.88 up $1.26 from last week and $39.04 stronger than year ago prices. Auction markets reported a good demand with prices steady to stronger, with just one report of prices off $1.00-$2.00 at mid-week.
There were 5,893 head of replacement cattle sold through auction markets this week down 1,077 from last week and 649 less than last year at this time. As of Dec 11, 2014, 257,742 stockers have moved through Ontario auction markets YTD which is down 9,102 head from the same time in 2013 YTD and down 23,480 from the same time in 2012 YTD. Auction markets reported a continued strong demand with good quality cattle selling steady to strong, up $2.00-$3.00 in spots, while medium quality were reported as under pressure, up to $4.00-$5.00 lower in spots. Actual average prices this week for steers 400-500 lbs averaged $10.68 higher than last week, 500-600 lbs up $18.83, 600-700 lbs up $9.01, 700-800 lbs up $2.96, 800-900 lbs down $7.14, 900-1000 lbs averaged $6.48 higher and steers over 1000 lbs averaged $1.38 lower than last week's average prices. Heifers 300-400 lbs averaged $4.23 lower than last week, 400-500 lbs down $2.94, 500-600 lbs up $3.50, 600-700 lbs down $2.96, 700-800 lbs down $8.53, 800-900 lbs up $12.31 and heifers over 900 lbs averaged $5.67 stronger than last week's average prices. No new weekly average high prices were set this week.
The Quebec Electronic Market reported this week for dressed steers and heifers was $297.50, up $2.50 from last week on average.
Alberta direct trade was very light with live sales reported by Canfax as having a steady tone, however sale volumes were too light to establish a market.
The U.S. cash cattle trade the week ending December 4th, as reported by the USDA Mandatory Price Report, had live sales ranging from $165.00-$168.50, down $4.55 for steers and $4.88 for heifers on average. Deals on the rail ranged from $262.00-$267.00 dressed, down $2.77 for steers and $3.23 lower on heifers, on average. Steers weighted average prices were $166.83 live down from $171.38 the previous week and $263.95 dressed, down from $266.72. Heifers averaged $167.28 live down from $172.16 the previous week, and $263.78 dressed down from $267.01. This week the market remained untested until today, Friday, with prices considerably lower than last week. Live sales so far are reported at $164.00 live, down $3.00 from last week while dressed deals are from $256.00-$257.00 dressed, around $7.00 lower than last week. Business is continuing at time of reporting, however at this point it appears the market trend is established. Jamie Gamble, Market Information Coordinator, Beef Farmers of Ontario
