A light run of cattle last week in Ontario.
Auction sales were running on limited, holiday schedules.
Only 124 fed cattle and 192 head of replacements were sold on the week.
That's about half the number of fed cattle sold the previous week, which was already pretty low.
The replacement volume was down over 25 hundred from the previous week.
847 cull cows were sold - about half the number sold the week before.
The average fed steer and heifer prices were both up from the previous week - but Beef Farmers of Ontario points out the previous week's prices were under pressure because of the lower quality of cattle on offer.
Cull cow prices were higher on the week but lower than a year ago.
And because of the light volumes, there were only enough replacements on offer in a couple of classes to establish a price.
The 900 to 1,000 pound animals were up over 22 dollars on the week while the steers over 1 thousand pounds were up about 40 dollars.
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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 30, 2015
Over the Christmas holiday auction sales were limited resulting in very light receipts this week. The live fed cattle market saw 124 head sold down 116 from last week's light trade but 101 more than the same time last year. Fed steers ranged from $164.48-$168.48 averaging $166.11 up $16.37 from last week however not enough sold last year at this time to make a comparison. Fed heifers sold from $146.94-$163.94 averaging $157.68 up $6.84 from last week. It is also important to note that last week's average prices for steers were pressured lower due to the quality of cattle on offer. Auction market reports for this week noted active trading on a very strong demand with prices $4.00-$6.00 higher.
The Ontario railgrade market this week jumped $19.50 on average over last week with sales reported at $268.00-$269.00 dressed for steers on Tuesday and $280.00-$282.00 on Wednesday. Heifers started were from $267.00-$268.00 on Tuesday and $279.00-$280.00 dressed on Wednesday. This week's average prices are $25.75 lower than last year at this time.
847 cull cows sold through auction markets this week down 870 from last week and 244 less than the same week last year. Cull cows traded from $72.51-$93.55 averaging $83.44 up $4.56 from last week but $15.75 below year ago prices. Auction markets reported demand as strong with prices steady and strong, up to $3.00-$5.00 higher.
The replacement cattle market was almost non-existent with only 192 head sold, down 2,569 from last week and 1,289 less than the same time last year. Auction markets reported that trade was steady to strong on extremely light receipts. Actual average prices for steers 900-1000 lbs was up $22.57 and steers over 1000 lbs were up $40.01 from last week, on average. All other categories saw too few cattle sold to establish a price report.
The Quebec Electronic Market for this week was not available at time of reporting.
Alberta direct trade the week ending Dec 22nd was light with live steers averaging $6.38 higher from $161.75-$162.00 live. On the rail prices were reported at $267.75 dressed for steers, up $9.87 from the week before, on average.
The US cash cattle trade the week ending Dec 22nd, as reported by the USDA Mandatory Price Report, saw live sales from $120.00-$126.00 with steers averaging $123.40 up $6.76 from the previous week while heifers averaged $123.62 up $6.96. On the rail prices ranged from $195.00-$200.00 dressed with steers averaging $199.60 up $16.16 from the previous week, while heifers averaged $199.64 up $16.24. At time of reporting, Wednesday December 30th afternoon, moderate trade in the south is at prices around $12.00 higher than last week from $133.00-$135.00 live with a couple of dressed deals at $212.00. In the north business is also $12.00 higher than last week at $212.00 dressed and $134.00 live. It appears that business for this week will be completed by the end of the day.
Jamie Gamble, Market Information Coordinator, Beef Farmers of Ontario.
