ONT Farm Market News PM Livestock Summary for December 2 Here is the Country Auction Report as collected by the Beef Farmers of Ontario Friday. * REPLACEMENT CATTLE: There were 1,300 head on offer at Brussels. Calves sold steady. Yearlings had not sold at the reporting time. Large & Medium Steers 700-800 lbs:$222.00 - $258.00 Large & Medium Steers 500-600 lbs:$258.00 - $298.00 Large & Medium Heifers over 800 lbs:$174.83 - $216.75 Large & Medium Heifers 600-700 lbs:$199.00 - $238.50 Large & Medium Heifers 500-600 lbs:$190.00 - $239.00 From the Beef Farmers of Ontario, the Rail Grade Report. Prices are on carcass weight basis, before grade and weight discounts. Steers: $320.00 - $320.00 Heifers: $319.00 - $319.00 *From Ontario Pork: *Quebec's average price on Thursday was $190.36 per ckg D.W. 100 index. *The previous markets day's CME Constructed (201) price was $82.83 U.S. per cwt. D.W. *Compared to the previous day this was down $0.81 *Average weekly price /ckg DW total value $243.07 *Total volume of Ont. hogs sold was 102877 * From the Beef Farmers of Ontario, the weekly beef commentary: Comments for the week ending December 1, 2022 : 449 fed steers and heifers sold through auction markets this week, up 117 head from the week before and 115 more than this time last year. Fed steers sold from $181.04-$194.05 with a weekly weighted average price of $189.86, up $4.82 from the previous week and $30.65 stronger than year ago prices. Fed heifers ranged from $181.79-$190.84 averaging $187.32, up $2.94 from the previous week and $32.47 higher than last year at this time. Auction markets reported trade as steady to $1.00-$2.00 cwt higher and up $2.00-$3.00 on the well-fed cattle. The market was topped this week at $222.00 cwt. The Ontario railgrade market was quiet on Friday and Monday as sellers resisted bids of $315.00 dressed for steers and $314.00 for heifers. By mid- week trade was reported at $320.00 dressed for steers and $319.00 for heifers, up $5.00 cwt from the previous weeks trade with delivery the week of December 5th and a few the week of December 12th. This weeks average price is up $47.75 from the same time last year. The Boxed Beef Report by Kevin Grier, on last weeks overview is: Prices were lower last week but the decline was orderly. Production is ample and at a lower demand time of year, falling prices are predictable. With that said, the decline has been slow and packers are not fighting the market. While this is a weaker demand time of year from a seasonal perspective, the overall demand undertone is still very firm. Big volumes are moving well and while prices are falling, they are still high by historic standards. On processing volumes Kevin reports: Cargill in Guelph was busy with regular overtime to get through 1,950 per day and no Saturday. Larger volumes of 2,806 fed/cull cows sold through auction markets this week up 361 head from the previous week but still 960 fewer than the same week last year. Cows sold from $72.47-$106.34 with a weekly weighted average price of $87.12 up $0.87 from the week before and $35.06 stronger than year ago prices. Auction markets reported trade as steady for the most part, with one market noting sales slightly easier and another up $2.00-$3.00 cwt on good quality. 752 beef cows sold this week up 241 head from last week, averaging $91.60 up $4.04 cwt from last weeks weighted average beef cow price. Larger receipts of 7,217 head of stocker and feeder cattle sold through auction markets this week up 1,305 head from the week before and 1,042 more than last year at this time. Auction markets reported calves as steady on strong demand to start with steers selling higher. As the week progressed, calves sold steady to selectively steady noting vaccinated calves as steady and strong and non-vaccinated calves barely steady. Yearlings were reported as steady to fully steady to start. By Tuesday trade was noted as higher and as the week progressed, trade was barely steady with medium quality trading easier. Yearlings ended the week selectively steady to strong noting vaccinated yearlings steady to strong and non-vaccinated selling barely steady. Actual average prices this week saw steers 400-500 lbs down $20.47 cwt from the previous week on average, 500-600 lbs were up $0.90, 600-700 lbs up $1.67, 700-800 lbs down $1.36, 800-900 lbs up $14.57, 900- 1000 lbs up $2.33 and steers 1000 lbs plus averaged $7.55 easier than last weeks weighted average price. Heifers from 300-400 lbs were down $7.99 cwt, 400-500 lbs up $6.32, 500-600 lbs down $8.24, 600-700 lbs up $3.22, 700-800 lbs down $12.72, 800-900 lbs down $8.12 and heifers 900 lbs plus averaged $0.10 easier than last week on average. Alberta direct trade was reported by Canfax as fully steady to the previous week from $304.00-$305.00 cwt delivered on a dressed basis on light volumes and are being scheduled for mid-January delivery. Canfax reports that a few cattle sold to the U.S. at a $4.00 premium to local prices. The U.S. cash cattle trade the week ending November 25th was strong and active at higher prices. Trade in the south was reported from $154.00- $155.00 live while in the north sales ranged from $157.00-$159.50 live and $242.00-$247.50 dressed. Actual average prices reported by the USDA Mandatory Price Report saw live steers average $156.07 up $3.18 cwt while heifers averaged $156.01 up $3.76 from the previous week. On the rail steers averaged $244.86 up $3.07 cwt with heifers averaging $244.2 up $2.92. This week the U.S. cash cattle trade was quiet until Wednesday where light to moderate trade developed in the south with prices fully steady to last weeks sales at $154.00-$155.00 live, majority at $155.00. A few deals in the north were noted at $157.00 live which is also steady, but most sellers passed the steady bids. Thursday a light trade surfaced in the north at $245.00-$249.00 dressed, mainly $249.00 up $4.00 from last weeks average price, with a few at $157.00 live which is steady. At time of reporting Friday noon there are a few bids in the north at $157.00 live and $245.00-$249.00 dressed but no trade has been reported. Asking prices on the remaining cattle at $157.00 live in the south and $250.00-$252.00 dressed in the north. Jamie Gamble - Beef Farmers of Ontarios market information report.