A light marketing week last week in Ontario for both fed and replacement cattle.
Beef Farmers of Ontario says only 38 fed steers and heifers were sold through auction markets on the week.
BFO says that volume was too light to establish a market trend.
255 replacement cattle were sold.
BFO says auction markets reported prices barely steady early in the week to 1-2 dollars higher on the last day of the year.
Ontario rail grade prices were unchanged from the previous week.
That's still 83 dollars stronger than a year ago.
Beef Farmers of Ontario expects those prices to trend upwards in the new year.
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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 January 1, 2015 A second week of extremely light receipts of 38 fed steers and heifers sold through auction markets this week, due to the holiday season. Volumes were too light to establish a market trend.
Ontario rail grade prices were fully steady all week with steers selling at $300.00-$301.00 dressed and heifers at $299.00-$3.00. This week's average prices were unchanged from last week but $83.00 stronger than last year at this time. Prices are expected to trend upward in the new year.
There were 1,462 cull cows sold through auction markets this week up 371 head from last week and 810 more than last year at this time. Cull cows sold from $84.60-$118.45 averaging $102.75 up $3.56 from last week and $32.79 stronger than last year at this time. Auction markets reported a good demand with prices steady to stronger.
There were just 255 replacement cattle sold through auction markets with most cattle weighing heavier. Auction markets called prices barely steady early week to $1.00-$2.00 higher on the last day of the year. Steers over 1000 lbs sold from $227.00-$246.00 averaging $237.77 up $17.54 from last week while steers 900-1000 lbs traded from $236.50-248.50 averaging $241.53 up $7.89. Heavy heifers were slightly lower on average, however there were only 23 head on offer.
The Quebec Electronic Market this week ranged from $299.75-$300.25 dressed, up $2.75 from last week on average.
Alberta direct trade is unavailable due to the holiday season closures.
The U.S. cash cattle cattle for the week ending December 25th was very strong with higher prices. Live steers and heifers sold from $159.00-$165.00 live with steers averaging $161.95 up from $158.51 the previous week and heifers averaging $162.22 up from $158.00. On the rail, steers and heifers averaged around $7.00 higher with trade reported from $253.00-$260.00 dressed. Steers averaged $257.03 up from $250.17 the previous week while heifers averaged $257.64 up from $250.05. This week the market was also higher ahead of the new year holiday. Business on Wednesday saw southern sale up $4.00 at $166.00 live while trade in the north was around $7.00-$9.00 stronger from $265.00-$267.00 dressed.
Jamie Gamble, Market Information Coordinator, Beef Farmers of Ontario.
