ONT Farm Market News PM Livestock Summary for May 13 Here is the Country Auction Report as collected by the Beef Farmers of Ontario Friday. * REPLACEMENT CATTLE: There were 1,000 head on offer at Brussels. Calves and yearlings sold at fully steady prices to last week's market. Large & Medium Steers over 900 lbs:$185.88 - $196.69 Large & Medium Steers 700-800 lbs:$196.00 - $232.00 Large & Medium Steers 500-600 lbs:$235.00 - $274.00 Large & Medium Heifers over 800 lbs:$153.95 - $190.73 Large & Medium Heifers 600-700 lbs:$169.00 - $223.00 Large & Medium Heifers 500-600 lbs:$175.00 - $241.00 From the Beef Farmers of Ontario, the Rail Grade Report. Prices are on carcass weight basis, before grade and weight discounts. Steers: $300.00 - $302.00 Heifers: $299.00 - $300.00 *From Ontario Pork: *Quebec's average price on Thursday was $204.72 per ckg D.W. 100 index. *The previous markets day's CME Constructed (201) price was $100.57 U.S. per cwt. D.W. *Compared to the previous day this was down $0.9 *Average weekly price /ckg DW total value $254.17 *Total volume of Ont. hogs sold was 103626 * From the Beef Farmers of Ontario, the weekly beef commentary: Comments for the week ending May 12, 2022 : Much lighter receipts of fed cattle sold through auction markets this week at 231 head, down 180 from last week and 311 fewer than this time last year. Fed steers traded from $165.61-$185.64, averaging $178.87, up $3.22 from last week and $31.62 above year ago prices. Fed heifers ranged from $161.86-$184.25, averaging $172.96, up $0.06 from the previous week and $26.10 stronger than last year at this time. Auction markets reported trade as steady to $3.00 stronger, with one market up $6.00-$8.00 cwt. The Ontario railgrade market this week was at $300.00 dressed for steers with a handful at $302.00 for immediate delivery, while a couple of heifer sales were noted from $299.00-$300.00, all up $1.00 from the previous week on average. Cattle that sold this week were for delivery mainly the week of May 23rd, with just a handful of trade for the week of May 16th early in the week, and May 30th late week. Overall sales reported this week were very light in volume. This weeks average price is up $48.00 cwt from this time last year. The last time we saw steers average at or above $300.00 was the week ending September 17, 2015 at $302.25. The Boxed Beef Report by Kevin Grier notes the overview for last week: After two-three years of incessant and repetitive talk about how demand is the market driver, it has quieted down. It is still good relative to historic norms, but it is not pulling the market and may in fact be called a drag. Prices are too high in the meat case combined with accelerating costs of gasoline and other essentials. Bears will note that the middles are sliding at a time that they should be leading. Bulls can note that the ends are trending sideways and providing support. Another bullish thought is that beef is looking very cost competitive and is also generating better retailer returns now. Much lighter receipts of cull cows also met a stronger demand this week. There were 1,559 fed/cull cows sold through auction markets down 601 from last week and 379 fewer than last year at this time. Cows sold from $84.44- $117.24 averaging $98.74 up $5.51 cwt from last week and $20.85 above year ago prices. Auction markets reported active trading at higher prices, up $2.00-$5.00 cwt. The beef cows were lighter in volume this week also with a weekly weighted average price of $103.81 up $7.16 on average from last week. Lighter receipts of stocker and feeder cattle were on offer at auction markets this week at 6,132 head, down 1,057 from last week and 749 fewer than the same time last year. Auction markets reported active trading with calves steady to stronger and grass cattle at a premium, up $10.00-$20.00 cwt in spots. As the week progressed, calves were steady with quality considered, with heifers under pressure and grass types noted as steady to firm. Yearlings were noted as steady to $5.00 higher on the steers and $2.00- $4.00 stronger on the heifers to start this reporting period, but as the week progressed trade was steady and ended the week with heifers under pressure. Actual average prices this week saw steers 400-500 lbs up $4.78 from the previous week, 500-600 lbs down $6.24, 600-700 lbs up $0.64, 700- 800 lbs down $8.74, 800-900 lb up $0.28, 900-1000 lbs up $1.88 and steers 1000 lbs and over averaged $2.48 higher than last week on average. Heifers from 300-400 lbs were down $25.80 on light receipts, 400-500 lbs up $4.14, 500-600 lbs up $3.84, 600-700 lbs down $0.98, 700-800 lbs down $8.28, 800-900 lbs down $1.83 and heifers 900 lbs and over average $4.42 higher than last weeks weighted average prices. All categories are trading at prices stronger than last year at this time with the exception of heifers 400-500 lbs which were lower. The Quebec electronic market this week ranged from $303.50-$305.25 dressed cwt on a picked-up basis, up $2.19 from last week on average. Alberta direct trade this week was light with prices reported at $290.00 cwt delivered on a dressed basis, up $4.00-$6.00 cwt from last week. Canfax reports: Cattle that traded this week were being scheduled for the first half of June delivery. Stronger prices and stronger basis levels did encourage producers to market cattle. The U.S. cash cattle trade for the week ending May 6th was mainly steady in the north on a live basis with sales from $145.00-$147.00 live while dressed trade ranged from $229.00-$234.00, steady to a touch softer. In the south trade ranged from $138.00-$142.00 live, mostly steady at $140.00. The overall weekly average prices for last week released by the USDA Mandatory Price report saw live steers average $143.42 up $0.08 from the previous week while heifers averaged $142.52 up $0.06. On the rail steers averaged $230.69 dressed down $1.62 from the week before on average while heifers averaged $231.86 down $0.76. This week, the U.S. cash cattle trade was light to moderate in the south Tuesday with prices from $139.00-$141.00 live, mainly $140.00 which is steady to last week. Light trade in the north was $1.00-$2.00 easier with live sales from $144.00-$148.00, mostly $144.00 while dressed trade saw a full range from $222.00-$230.00 cwt averaging around $229.00-$230.00 which is around $0.50-$2.00 cwt easier. Wednesday, some scattered trade was steady to Tuesday at $137.00-$140.00 live in the south, majority at $140.00 with prices at $230.00 dressed and a few at $144.00 live in the north. Asking prices are holding at $140.00 plus live in the south and $232.00 plus dressed in the north on the few remaining cattle but at time of reporting there are no bids on the table and it appears the bulk of trade is completed. Jamie Gamble - Beef Farmers of Ontarios market information report.