After a brief week of relief, cattle prices were down across the board last week.
Beef Farmers of Ontario report 179 more fed steers and heifers were sold last week than during the same time last year.
As a result, fed steers averaged $123.67, down $3.22 on the week.
Fed heifer prices declined by an average of $4.05 -- both are down more than 37 dollars from a year ago.
BFO notes cull cow prices to be down $3.71 on the week as over 2,300 head went through auction. The $68.89 average is more than 20 dollars below 2015 prices.
The farmers also point out Ontario railgrade prices dipped another 3 dollars through the week, finishing up $54.50 below the same week last year.
More than 10,000 head of stocker and feeder cattle sold through Ontario Auctions last week.
BFO points out that even bigger volumes are coming this week as there will be 17 special fall stocker sales held across the province.
Kevin Grier of the Canadian Boxed Beef report says merchandisers are going away from traditional features for this time of year and are instead simply going with what the market is offering.
He adds beef movement at retail is picking up but regular prices need to come down further to generate sustained traffic.
