ONT Farm Market News PM Livestock Summary for February 17 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 and yearlings sold on an extremely active trade at prices $3.00 to $5.00 higher. Large & Medium Steers over 900 lbs:$229.60 - $266.73 Large & Medium Steers 700-800 lbs:$257.00 - $311.00 Large & Medium Steers 500-600 lbs:$260.00 - $329.00 Large & Medium Heifers over 800 lbs:$207.64 - $246.55 Large & Medium Heifers 600-700 lbs:$242.00 - $271.50 Large & Medium Heifers 500-600 lbs:$224.00 - $278.50 *From Ontario Pork: *Quebec's average price on Thursday was $182.35 per ckg D.W. 100 index. *The previous markets day's CME Constructed (201) price was $75.93 U.S. per cwt. D.W. *Compared to the previous day this was up $0.17 *Average weekly price /ckg DW total value $204.26 *Total volume of Ont. hogs sold was 117659 * From the Beef Farmers of Ontario, the weekly beef commentary: Comments for the week ending February 16, 2023: 463 fed steers and heifers sold through auction markets this week, up 20 head from the previous week and 167 more than the same week last year. Fed steers traded from $188.69-$201.72, averaging $196.71 down $1.21 from last week and $30.82 higher than this time last year. Fed heifers sold from $187.88-$200.03, averaging $194.77 up $2.74 from the prior week and $25.87 higher than this time last year. Auction markets reported trade as active with prices steady with quality considered to $1.00-$2.00 cwt higher to start the week. By mid-week trade was reported as active at prices $3.00- $5.00 cwt stronger and ended the week up $1.00 cwt from the previous weeks trade. The Ontario railgrade market advanced another $3.00 cwt this week on average, with steers reported at $332.00 dressed and heifers from $331.00- $332.00 cwt. Trade was light with delivery reported for the week of February 20th. Prices are up $42.00 cwt from the same time last year. Reports of cattle going south of the border this week were noted at a slight premium to the local packers. There were 2,583 fed/cull cows sold through auction markets this week up 148 head from last week but fully steady to the same time last year. Cows ranged from $81.22-$116.77 with a weekly weighted average price of $97.02 down $5.14 cwt from the previous week but still $16.18 stronger than year ago prices. Auction markets reported trade as steady to barely steady and slightly lower, with just one market noting stronger prices. 472 head of this weeks offering were beef cows, up 128 head from the previous week, averaging $104.88 down $4.93 cwt from last weeks weighted average beef cow prices. 992 more stocker and feeder cattle were sold through auction markets this week compared to last at 3,511 head, and 492 more than the same time last year. Auction markets reported good to excellent buyer demand with active trading. Calves were noted as selling strong and steady to start, but by mid- week trade was up $5.00-$8.00 cwt and ended the week on a higher tone. Heavier cattle were reported as strong and steady to start, and higher to $3.00-$5.00 cwt stronger by mid-week. The market ended the week at higher prices. Actual average prices this week saw steers 400-500 lbs up $9.73 on average, 500-600 lbs up $11.72, 600-700 lbs down $3.90, 700-800 lbs up $7.04, 800-900 lbs up $2.55, 900-1000 lbs up $1.08 and steers 1000 lbs and over averaged $11.18 higher than last weeks weighted average prices. Heifers from 300-400 lbs were down $5.42, 400-500 lbs up $3.31, 500-600 lbs up $12.03, 600-700 lbs up $17.45, 700-800 lbs up $16.85, 800-900 lbs down $6.86 (on very light receipts) while heifers 900 lbs and over averaged $6.39 above last weeks weighted average prices. The Quebec electronic market this week was reported at $336.50 dressed on a picked-up basis up, $3.81 cwt from last week on average. Alberta direct trade this week was light with Canfax reporting sales from $327.00-$328.00 cwt delivered on a dressed basis, up $1.00-$2.00 cwt from last week with delivery the first half of March. Canfax reports: Live sales were reported around 195.00 FOB the feedlot, steady with last weeks weighted average price. A few Alberta cattle traded to the US, depending on freight and dressing percentage, sales to the US working back around 199.00 FOB the feedlot. Sales to the US were at a slight premium over local deals. The U.S. cash cattle trade the week February 10th was fairly quiet until the second half of the week with light business developing in the north first from $250.00-$255.00 cwt dressed, mainly $254.00 up $4.00 cwt. A very light test on a live basis in the north ranged from $157.00-$161.00 live, steady to $1.00 higher, but prices were based on the shape of the cattle as many parts were dealing with very muddy conditions. In the south a couple of scattered deals through the week were noted but moderate trade did not develop until late Friday afternoon from $159.00-$161.00 live, mainly $160.00-$161.00 up $1.00-$2.00 from the previous week. Overall average prices for the week reported by the USDA Mandatory Price Report saw live steers average $159.62 up $1.45 with live heifers averaging $159.52 up $1.56. On the rail steers averaged $253.91 up $4.03 cwt while heifers averaged $253.51 up $4.11 cwt from the week before. This week the U.S. cash cattle trade was quiet again for the first half of the week. Wednesday saw a couple of deals in Iowa and Nebraska at $254.00- $255.00 dressed and $159.00-$163.00 live, but not enough sold to establish a market. Boxed beef prices improved this week indicating a good demand for beef. Late afternoon Thursday trade was light to moderate with sales reported from $252.00-$258.00 dressed, most $256.00-$257.00 and majority at $257.00 up $2.00-$3.00 cwt from last week, with some live deals from $159.00-$163.00, mainly $160.00-$161.00 which is $0.50-$1.00 higher. The south remained fairly quiet with just a few deals in Kansas noted at $161.00 live up $1.00 cwt, but not enough to establish a market report. Today a light trade in the north is developing at $257.00 dressed, steady to Thursday and $3.00 stronger than last week. In the south a light test is starting to surface at $162.00 live, up $2.00 cwt from last week. Business should continue this afternoon with asking prices firm at $163.00 live in the south and $260.00 dressed in the north. Jamie Gamble - Beef Farmers of Ontarios market information report.