ONT Farm Market News PM Livestock Summary for January 13 Here is the Country Auction Report as collected by the Beef Farmers of Ontario Friday. * REPLACEMENT CATTLE: There were 1,100 head on offer at Brussels. Calves and yearlings sold on a strong and active trade. Large & Medium Steers over 900 lbs:$220.52 - $238.67 Large & Medium Steers 700-800 lbs:$252.00 - $288.00 Large & Medium Steers 500-600 lbs:$260.00 - $325.00 Large & Medium Heifers over 800 lbs:$195.78 - $226.06 Large & Medium Heifers 600-700 lbs:$210.00 - $245.00 Large & Medium Heifers 500-600 lbs:$197.00 - $247.00 *From Ontario Pork: *Quebec's average price on Thursday was $167.4 per ckg D.W. 100 index. *The previous markets day's CME Constructed (201) price was $75.18 U.S. per cwt. D.W. *Compared to the previous day this was down $0.64 *Average weekly price /ckg DW total value $225.85 *Total volume of Ont. hogs sold was 95,761 * From the Beef Farmers of Ontario, the weekly beef commentary: Weekly Cattle Comments - As Supplied by Beef Farmers of Ontario Toll free: 1-866-370-2333 or Local: (519) 824-0334 Fax: (519) 824-9161 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Comments for the week ending January 12, 2023 370 fed steers and heifers sold through auction markets this week, fully steady to the week before and 24 more than this time last year. Fed steers ranged from $177.55-$196.63 with a weekly weighted average price of $189.22 down $3.16 cwt on average but $20.02 stronger than year ago prices. Fed heifers sold from $175.04-$195.48 averaging $186.60 down $1.11 from last week but $23.77 above last year at this time. The bottom end of the ranges this week are down around $4.00-$7.00 cwt indicating a wider range of quality. Auction markets reported active trading with good demand and prices fully steady to stronger, up to $3.00 cwt higher in spots. Trade ended the week actively at firm prices with fancy cattle bringing premiums. The Ontario railgrade market continued to trend higher this week with prices reported at mainly $326.00 dressed for steers and $325.00 for heifers with delivery reported the week of January 16th. A couple of lots of steers were noted from $327.00-$329.00 on very limited volumes, but majority were at $326.00. All packers were reported as active this week. This weeks average price is $3.00 cwt stronger than last week, however last year at this time there was not enough trade reported to establish a market price, however the week prior and after was $290.00 cwt. So far this year, January prices are the highest recorded for the month of January, trading $8.00-$11.00 stronger than the previous January high in 2015. Federally inspected processing volumes for 2022 as of December 31, 2022 total 610,049 head up 0.3 percent from 2021 volumes. Steer volumes in 2022 were up 2.8 percent over 2021, heifers down 9.7 percent and cow processing volumes were down 0.05 percent from 2021. Much larger numbers of fed/cull cows came to market this week totaling 3,170 head sold through auction markets, up 456 head from the previous week and 305 more than the same time last year. Cows sold from $72.35- $102.75 averaging $86.66 up $0.65 week over week and $20.77 higher than year ago prices. Auction markets reported a strong demand with active trading and prices steady to stronger across the board, with one market noting prices $5.00-$6.00 cwt higher. Trade ended the week holding steady. 467 beef cows traded this week up 217 head from last week averaging $94.05 up $5.76 from the previous weeks weighted average beef cow price. Volumes of stocker and feeder cattle were up 1,769 head from last week at 2,990 head, and fully steady to this time last year. Auction markets reported trade as strong and steady to fully steady right across the board. By weeks end trade was steady with one market noting a very medium quality offering. Many categories last week were too light to establish a price therefore comparisons this week to last are not available. Actual average prices for steers 400-500 lbs were down $16.92 from last week, 500-600 lbs down $1.46, 600-700 lbs up $23.19, 700-800 lbs up $42.95, 900-1000 lbs were down $6.71 and steers 1000 lbs plus averaged $4.73 easier than last week. Heifers 400-500 lbs averaged $1.57 stronger, 500-600 lbs were up $7.60, 600-700 lbs up $23.89, 800-900 lbs up $31.25 and heifers 900 lbs and over averaged $12.36 higher than last weeks weighted average prices. The Quebec electronic market this week was reported at $328.50 dressed on a picked-up basis up, $7.42 cwt from last week on average. Alberta direct trade saw a light trade this week at $312.00-$312.50 cwt delivered on a dressed basis notes Canfax, mainly $312.00 up $2.00 from last weeks sales with delivery early February. Canfax reports: Competition on the cash market remains decent with both major packers buying cattle. US packer interest has been quiet so far this week. A lot of the cattle being marketed right now have break-evens on either side of $200.00/cwt (live basis). Fed prices are currently in the mid $180.00s/cwt (live basis) suggesting feedlot losses are around $225.00/head. For early January fed prices are right in line with 2015. Over the past couple of weeks Alberta fed prices have been trading at a 27.00 discount against the US market. For the first half of January this is the weakest basis on record. The U.S. cash cattle trade the week January 6th was fully steady on a live basis and up $0.50-$1.00 cwt on the rail. In the south live trade was reported from $155.00-$157.00, mainly $157.00 cwt. In the north some light live trade was anywhere from $156.00-$159.50 which is steady while dressed deals ranged from $248.00-$256.00. Overall average prices for the week, reported by the USDA Mandatory Price Report saw live steers and heifers average $157.74, down $0.07 for steers and up $0.10 on heifers. On a dressed basis steers and heifers both averaged $252.05 up $0.61 on the steers and $0.85 higher for heifers. Early this week the U.S. cash cattle trade was very quiet with limited packer interest noted. Wednesday, just saw a handful of cattle trade in Iowa and a couple in Nebraska at $252.00-$254.00 dressed, steady to slightly stronger but not nearly enough sold to establish a market. On Thursday trade was light to moderate in the north while the south was very light in volume. Business in the north was reported from $156.00-$159.00 live, mainly $157.00-$158.00 with dressed deals from $248.00-$254.00, most $252.00 which is steady, while the south was $1.00 easier at $156.00 live. Today a light trade in the south has surfaced at $156.00 live down $1.00 on average from last week with business in the north at $156.00 live and $250.00 dressed down $2.00 cwt from last week. Asking prices are reported at $158.00-$159.00 live in the south and $253.00 plus dressed in the north. Clean up trade is expected today but it appears the market is established. Jamie Gamble - Beef Farmers of Ontarios market information rep