ONT Farm Market News PM Livestock Summary for December 9 Here is the Country Auction Report as collected by the Beef Farmers of Ontario Friday. * REPLACEMENT CATTLE: There were 950 head on offer at Brussels. Calves sold on a higher market. Yearlings sold actively at fully steady prices. Large & Medium Steers over 900 lbs:$224.72 - $262.10 Large & Medium Steers 700-800 lbs:$222.50 - $260.00 Large & Medium Steers 500-600 lbs:$254.00 - $313.00 Large & Medium Heifers over 800 lbs:$168.22 - $221.41 Large & Medium Heifers 600-700 lbs:$220.00 - $243.50 Large & Medium Heifers 500-600 lbs:$200.00 - $250.00 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 $189.21 per ckg D.W. 100 index. *The previous markets day's CME Constructed (201) price was $82.64 U.S. per cwt. D.W. *Compared to the previous day this was up $0.33 *Average weekly price /ckg DW total value $233.49 *Total volume of Ont. hogs sold was 112,377 * From the Beef Farmers of Ontario, the weekly beef commentary: Weekly Cattle Comments - As Supplied by Beef Farmers of Ontario Comments for the week ending December 8, 2022 Lighter receipts of fed steers and heifers (one market missing due to technical issues) totaled 291 head this week, down 158 from last week however still 99 more than this time last year. Fed steers ranged from $171.64-$198.04 averaging $187.58 down $2.28 from the previous week and $28.73 above year ago prices. Fed heifers sold from $160.82-$191.40 averaging $178.54 down $8.78 on average and $19.47 stronger than last year. This week the bottom end of the range was $10.00-$20.00 cwt lower compared to the previous week while the top end of the range was up $1.00- $4.00 indicating quality was a consideration. Auction markets reported trade as active at higher prices, up anywhere from $1.00-$5.00 cwt. The Ontario railgrade market was active with prices holding fully steady to the previous week at $320.00 cwt dressed for steers and $319.00 for heifers on majority of sales. A report at $322.00 was noted to a provincial packer for immediate delivery. Cattle trading this week were being scheduled for delivery the week of December 12th to start and the last week of December by weeks end. Last year at this time the average price was $275.50 cwt down $44.50 from the current prices. Although prices are not record high overall, they are record high for the month of December with only December 2014 over $300.00 cwt. Volumes of fed/cull cows are very light for this time of year with just 2,563 head sold through auction markets this week, down 243 from last week and 472 fewer than the same week last year. Cows ranged from $71.80-$104.26 averaging $86.39 cwt down $0.73 from last week but $33.39 stronger than last year at this time. Auction markets reported trade as active with prices starting out higher. By Tuesday trade was reported as steady to barely steady and slightly lower. By mid-week beef cows were steady while dairy breeds were higher and cows ended the week as active and steady. 535 of this weeks offering were beef cows which is 217 fewer than last week, averaging $90.70 down $0.90 from last weeks weighted average beef cow price. Volumes of stocker and feeder cattle are trending lower as the year starts to come to a close. There were just 5,083 head sold this week through auction markets, down 2,134 head from last week and 99 fewer than the same week last year. Auction markets reported calves as steady to fully steady, with vaccinated calves fully steady to stronger. Yearlings/heavier cattle were noted as selling on a good steady market to start. As the week progressed trade was noted as $3.00-$5.00 cwt higher and by mid week prices were holding steady on a strong active trade. Actual average prices this week saw steers 400-500 lbs up $13.65, 500-600 lbs up $6.19, 600-700 lbs up $10.66, 700-800 lbs up $3.40, 800-900 lbs down $17.19, 900-1000 lbs down $8.11 while steers 1000 lbs plus averaged $10.12 higher than last week. Heifers from 300-400 lbs were down $14.69 on average, 400-500 lbs down $3.80, 500-600 lbs up $3.52, 600-700 lbs up $10.46, 700-800 lbs up $7.95, 800- 900 lbs down $1.24 while heifers 900 lbs and over averaged $8.92 easier than last weeks weighted average prices. The Quebec electronic market this week was reported at $312.00 cwt delivered on a picked-up basis, down $4.00 cwt from last weeks trade on average. Alberta direct trade was light this week, with sales reported by Canfax at $304.00-$305.00 cwt delivered on a dressed basis, which is steady to last weeks trade. Canfax reports: Cattle that traded this week were being scheduled for mid to late January delivery. US packer interest was noted, and a few cattle were marketed south. Cattle that traded to the US were at a premium over local deals. Sale volumes were once again very light this week. With historically weak basis levels and negative feeding margins producers have been fight the market by adding additional weight to their cattle. The U.S. cash cattle trade the week ending December 2nd was light to moderate with live sales steady in both the north and the south, while dressed deals were higher. In the south sales ranged from $154.00-$155.00 live, mainly $155.00 while in the north live trade was light from $157.00- $159.50, majority at $157.00 live. Dressed trade in the north ranged from $245.00-$249.00, with most deals at the top end of the range. The USDA Mandatory Price Report listed overall average prices for the week at $156.42 live for steers up $0.35 with heifers $156.07 up $0.06. On the rail steers averaged $248.55 up $3.69 with heifers $247.77 up $2.85 from the previous weeks weighted average prices. This week the U.S. cash cattle trade was quiet until Wednesday where a light trade developed in the north at prices $1.00-$2.00 cwt easier than last week at $246.00-$247.00 dressed, mainly $247.00 cwt with a couple of lots sold at $156.00 live down $1.00. Later in the day limited live trade in the north was noted at $158.00, up $1.00 from last week. The south was fairly quiet with just a light test reported at $153.00 live in Texas, down $2.00, while most southern sellers resisted lower bids of $154.00 live. Thursday in Texas and Kansas light trade was reported at $154.00, $1.00 higher than Wednesday but $1.00 lower than last week. Sellers in the south continued to hold for higher prices. Dressed sales in Iowa and Nebraska ranged from $246.00- $247.00, steady to a couple dollars weaker. Friday southern trade is reported at $155.00 live, fully steady to last week, while the north was quiet with no bids reported. Jamie Gamble - Beef Farmers of Ontarios market information report.