ONT Farm Market News PM Livestock Summary for April 1 Here is the Country Auction Report as collected by the Beef Farmers of Ontario Friday. * REPLACEMENT CATTLE: There were 800 head on offer at Brussels. Calves and yearlings sold actively at steady prices. Large & Medium Steers over 900 lbs:$163.13 - $180.98 Large & Medium Steers 700-800 lbs:$183.00 - $213.00 Large & Medium Steers 500-600 lbs:$196.00 - $233.00 Large & Medium Heifers over 800 lbs:$160.87 - $185.14 Large & Medium Heifers 600-700 lbs:$170.00 - $187.00 Large & Medium Heifers 500-600 lbs:$155.00 - $203.75 From the Beef Farmers of Ontario, the Rail Grade Report. Prices are on carcass weight basis, before grade and weight discounts. Steers: $290.00 - $290.00 Heifers: $290.00 - $290.00 *From Ontario Pork: *Quebec's average price on Thursday was $239.13 per ckg D.W. 100 index. *The previous markets day's CME Constructed (201) price was $102.74 U.S. per cwt. D.W. *Compared to the previous day this was down $0.75 *Average weekly price /ckg DW total value $250.67 *Total volume of Ont. hogs sold was 110045 * From the Beef Farmers of Ontario, the weekly beef commentary: Comments for the week ending March 31, 2022: There were much lighter receipts of fed steers and heifers sold through auction markets this week at 339 head, down 146 from last week and 44 fewer than the same week last year. Fed steers sold from $159.66-$173.84, averaging $169.08, down $3.00 from last week but $27.53 above year ago pricing. Fed heifers sold from $156.59-$176.25, averaging $168.85, down $1.31 from last week and $31.72 stronger than last year at this time. Auction markets reported trade as steady to fully steady and ended the week up $1.00 cwt. The Ontario railgrade market continues to trend sideways for the 13th week in a row. The previous Friday there was no new trade reported but by Tuesday this week, sales were coming in at $290.00 dressed for steers with delivery the week of April 18th and starting into the week of April 25th by Thursday. A couple of deals were noted at $293.00 dressed for steers for delivery next week, but very limited. Heifers sold from $289.00-$290.00 dressed with delivery dates the same as the steers. This weeks average price is $50.00 cwt above last year at this time. Ontario provincial processing volumes for fed cattle, cows and bulls as of Feb 28th total 14,432 head up 1.2% from 2021 and up 23.7% from 2020. In that mix, steers are up 6.4% from 2021, heifers fully steady, cull cows down 4.3% and bulls down 12.3% from last year. At federally inspected plants volumes processed as of Feb 28, 2022 are at 96,622 head up 0.9% from Feb 28, 2021 but 5.5% below 2020. The volume of steers processed federally are down 2.1% from Feb 28, 2021 with heifers down 12% compared to 2021. Cull cow volumes as of Feb 28, 2022 are up 35% from the same time in 2021. Combined federal and provincial processing volumes as of Feb 28, 2022 are up 1% over last year at this time. The volume of fed/cull cows sold through auction markets this week was down 510 head from last week at 1,755 head which is also 542 fewer that the same time last year. Cows ranged from $80.76-$113.79 averaging $96.89 up $2.59 from last week and $26.71 stronger than the same week last year. Auction markets reported trade as active with prices steady for most of the week, but by mid week trade was steady to strong to $2.00-$3.00 cwt higher. Beef cow volumes were also lower this week over last with prices averaging $102.56 up $1.08 cwt over last weeks beef cow weighted average price. Steady receipts of 4,543 stocker and feeder cattle came to market this week, down just 98 from last week but 1,221 more than this time last year. Auction markets trade as steady on the calves with quality considered. Yearlings started out easier but by mid-week the market was reported as active on a steady to stronger trade. Actual average prices this week for steers 400-500 lbs were down $19.36 from last week, 500-600 lbs down $25.90, 600-700 lbs down $14.04, 700-800 lbs down $7.70, 800-900 lbs down $2.37, 900-1000 lbs down $4.83 and steers 1000 lbs plus averaged $3.37 below last weeks weighted average prices. Heifers from 300-400 lbs were up $9.35, 400-500 lbs were down $11.88 on average, 500-600 lbs down $5.84, 600-700 lbs down $13.27, 700-800 lbs down $18.06, 800-900 lbs down $6.07 and heifers 900 lbs and over averaged $3.57 easier than last weeks weighted average prices. The Quebec electronic market this week ranged from $294.75-$295.00 cwt on a picked-up basis, up $0.56 from last week on average. All cattle were purchased by Quebec packers. Alberta direct trade was light on Wednesday and Thursday with prices reported as steady at $275.00 delivered on a dressed basis. Canfax reports: Cattle that traded this week were being scheduled for late April/early May delivery. Fed prices have trended sideways for the past seven weeks averaging in the low $160s/cwt. The U.S. cash cattle trade for the week ending March 25th was steady in the south and steady to $0.50 easier in the north. Prices for the week, reported by the USDA Mandatory Price Report saw live sales range from $135.00- $144.00 with steers averaging $138.95 down $0.15 from the previous week while heifers averaged $138.32 down $0.16. On the rail trade for the week ranged from $219.00-$225.00 dressed with steers averaging $221.46 down $0.22 while heifers averaged $221.00 down $0.47 from the previous weeks weighted average prices. This week the U.S. cash cattle trade was quiet until Wednesday where a light to moderate trade developed in the south from $137.00-$138.00 live, mainly $138.00 which is fully steady to last weeks southern sales. A very light test in the north on Wednesday ranged from $139.00-$140.00 live, steady to a touch stronger while dressed deals ranged from $221.00-$225.00 also steady to slightly higher than last week. At the Central Stockyards online auction Wednesday, there were 2,526 head on offer, in 15 lots with delivery in 1-30 days. Thursday, moderate trade in the north was stronger with dressed deals from $219.00-$228.00, mainly $222.00-$223.00 up $1.00- $2.00 cwt with a few live sales from $138.00-$144.00 with the top end of the range in Iowa, also stronger than last week. Today the market is quiet however some clean up trade is possible. Jamie Gamble - Beef Farmers of Ontarios market information report.