ONT Farm Market News PM Livestock Summary for January 27 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 on a strong, active market at fully steady prices. Large & Medium Steers over 900 lbs:$230.97 - $255.59 Large & Medium Steers 700-800 lbs:$253.00 - $283.50 Large & Medium Steers 500-600 lbs:$257.00 - $293.00 Large & Medium Heifers over 800 lbs:$202.32 - $232.70 Large & Medium Heifers 600-700 lbs:$186.00 - $224.00 Large & Medium Heifers 500-600 lbs:$205.00 - $265.00 From the Beef Farmers of Ontario, the Rail Grade Report. Prices are on carcass weight basis, before grade and weight discounts. Steers: $328.00 - $328.00 Heifers: $328.00 - $328.00 *From Ontario Pork: *Quebec's average price on Thursday was $157.35 per ckg D.W. 100 index. *The previous markets day's CME Constructed (201) price was $72.71 U.S. per cwt. D.W. *Compared to the previous day this was up $0.37 *Average weekly price /ckg DW total value $206.27 *Total volume of Ont. hogs sold was 118753 * From the Beef Farmers of Ontario, the weekly beef commentary: Comments for the week ending January 26, 2023: Auction market receipts of fed steers and heifers sold this week were slightly lighter at 329 head, down 56 from the previous week but up 27 from the same time last year. Fed steers sold from $180.05-$201.35, averaging $191.92, up $0.86 from the previous week and $25.01 above year ago prices. Fed heifers ranged from $182.53-$198.26, averaging $192.31, up $7.03 from the previous week and $26.42 stronger than last year at this time. The heifer range this week was narrower than the week before with the bottom end of the range up $10.00 cwt indicating a better quality offering. Auction markets reported trade as active with prices steady to stronger. The Ontario railgrade market this week was extremely light with just a few sales noted on Friday at $328.00 dressed for steers and $327.00-$328.00 for heifers with delivery the week of January 30th up $0.50 on average. From Monday until Wednesday, there were no new sales reported by producers, as they resisted the steady bids at $328.00 for steers and $327.00-$328.00 for heifers with reports that cattle selling would be scheduled for next week to the first week in February. Some trade to the US was noted. Prices this week are averaging $38.00 cwt above year ago prices. Much lighter receipts of fed/cull cows came to market this week with 2,389 head sold through auction markets, down 567 from the previous week and 415 fewer that the same time last year. Cows sold from $74.97-$108.03 with a weekly weighted average price of $88.96 up $2.77 from the week before and $15.70 stronger than this time last year. Auction markets reported a good demand with prices steady to higher. 380 head of this weeks offering were beef cows down 213 head from last week, with a weekly weighted average price of $95.15 up $4.24 cwt from the previous weeks average beef cow price. Lighter receipts of stocker and feeder cattle were on offer this week with auction markets trading 2,457 head, down 2,234 from the week before and 1,654 fewer than the same time last year. Auction markets reported trade as active with cattle trading slightly higher with quality considered. By mid-week trade was reported as steady on the heavier cattle while a light run at the end of the week, due to adverse weather, saw calves selling steady while yearlings were stronger with quality considered. Actual average prices this week saw steers 400-500 lbs down $18.49 from the previous week, steers 500-600 lbs were down $11.09, 600-700 lbs down $6.16, 700-800 lbs down $9.14, 800-900 lbs up $5.07, 900-1000 lbs down $5.68 and steers 1000 lbs plus averaged $0.19 easier than last weeks trade on average. Heifers from 300-400 lbs were down $10.10, 400-500 lbs down $10.60, 500-600 lbs down $2.93, 600-700 lbs down $3.76, 700-800 lbs down $11.15, 800-900 lbs up $6.12 and heifers 900 lbs and over averaged $5.52 below last weeks weighted average prices. The Quebec electronic market this week was reported from $331.25-$333.00 dressed on a picked-up basis up, $2.00 cwt from last week on average. Alberta direct trade was light this week with prices up $2.00-$3.00 cwt from $317.00-$320.00 cwt delivered on a dressed basis with delivery noted for the end of February to early March. Canfax notes: "Competition on the cash market has been supportive with both major packers buying cattle this week. Packers are not limiting the amount of cattle they are buying from each producer. This is helping to get feedlot inventories a little more current." No trade to the US was reported this week. The U.S. cash cattle trade the week January 20th saw business in the south down $1.00 cwt on average with sales ranging from $153.00-155.00 live, majority at $155.00. In the north some trade on a live basis ranged from $155.00-$158.00, mainly $155.00-$156.00 down $1.00-$2.00 from the previous week. Dressed deals in the north ranged from $243.00-$251.00, mostly $248.00 down $3.00. Overall average prices reported by the USDA saw live steers average $155.32 down $1.46 with heifers $155.22 down $1.37. On the rail steers averaged $248.22 down $2.89 from the previous week while heifers averaged $248.33 down $2.99. This week the U.S. cash cattle trade remained at a standstill until Thursday afternoon where light to moderate trade developed in the north with sales from $245.00-$248.00 dressed, mainly $248.00, which is generally steady with last week while some live trade in the north was noted from $153.00- $157.00, mainly $155.00 which is steady to $2.00 lower than the previous weeks average prices. The south was quiet on Thursday as sellers held out for higher prices. Today, bids have surfaced at $154.00 live in the south but sellers are digging in at this point for at least steady prices of $155.00 live. Bids in the north are at $248.00 dressed which is steady but no trade has developed at this time. Asking prices in the south are sitting at $157.00 plus live with the remaining cattle in the north priced at $250.00 plus dressed. Sooner or later one side in the south is going to have to give or the week will end at a standstill. Jamie Gamble - Beef Farmers of Ontarios market information report.