ONT Farm Market News PM Livestock Summary for January 6 Here is the Country Auction Report as collected by the Beef Farmers of Ontario Friday. * REPLACEMENT CATTLE: There were 1,000 head on offer at Brussels. Calves and yearlings sold fully steady. Large & Medium Steers over 900 lbs:$228.38 - $256.35 Large & Medium Steers 700-800 lbs:$270.50 - $295.00 Large & Medium Steers 500-600 lbs:$208.00 - $307.00 Large & Medium Heifers over 800 lbs:$199.39 - $216.16 Large & Medium Heifers 600-700 lbs:$203.00 - $246.00 Large & Medium Heifers 500-600 lbs:$187.50 - $236.00 From the Beef Farmers of Ontario, the Rail Grade Report. Prices are on carcass weight basis, before grade and weight discounts. Steers: $323.00 - $323.00 Heifers: $322.00 - $322.00 *From Ontario Pork: *Quebec's average price on Thursday was $178.85 per ckg D.W. 100 index. *The previous markets day's CME Constructed (201) price was $77.89 U.S. per cwt. D.W. *Compared to the previous day this was down $0.81 *Average weekly price /ckg DW total value $224.84 *Total volume of Ont. hogs sold was 73217 * From the Beef Farmers of Ontario, the weekly beef commentary: Comments for the week ending January 5, 2023 Receipts for fed cattle this week were up 46 head from last year at this time following a very light trade last week due to the holiday season. 365 fed cattle sold through auction markets this week, up 314 from the previous week on strong demand. Fed steers ranged from $184.34-$197.13, averaging $192.38 compared to $190.11 the week prior to the holidays which is up $2.27 on average and $21.01 stronger than this time last year. Fed heifers ranged from $179.60-$193.56, averaging $187.71 down $0.72 from pre- holiday levels and $17.96 higher than this time last year. Auction markets reported trade as active with prices fully steady to $2.00-$3.00 cwt higher. The Ontario railgrade market over the holidays was too light to establish a price report but the market tone was steady at $320.00 dressed for steers and $319.00 for heifers. This week, packers were bidding steady to start the week but sellers were not showing any interest. By Wednesday, sales were reported at $323.00 dressed for steers and $322.00 for heifers, up $3.00 on average with delivery for the week of January 9th. Reports of some cattle going to the U.S. were also noted. Larger volumes of fed/cull cows sold this week through auction markets at 2,714 head, up 1,423 from last weeks light trade, and 130 more than this time last year. Cows ranged from $72.01-$104.10 cwt, averaging $86.01 up $7.38 from the previous week and $20.41 stronger than year ago prices. Auction markets reported trade as steady to stronger on strong demand, with prices fully steady to higher. 250 head of this weeks trade was beef cows averaging $88.29 which down $3.84 from last weeks weighted average price on just 61 beef cows. Volumes of stocker and feeder cattle were very limited this week due to the holidays with just 1,221 head sold through auction markets which is actually up 467 from the previous week but 49 more than the same week last year. Auction markets reported light runs with prices steady and strong. Actual average prices on the categories with enough volume to report pricing saw steers 400-500 lbs up $3.05 on average, 500-600 lbs were down $46.94, 600-700 lbs down $44.23, 700-800 lbs down $27.99, 900-1000 lbs up $12.89 and steers 1000 lbs plus averaged $5.32 easier than last week noting exceptionally light volumes reported the week prior. On the heifers, 400-500 weights averaged $11.97 below the previous week on average, 500-600 lbs were down $16.32, 600-700 lbs down $31.66 and heifers 900 lbs plus averaged $6.35 stronger than the previous week. The Quebec electronic market this week was reported from $321.00-$321.25 dressed on a picked up basis but a change from last week was not available as there was no new trade reported last week. Alberta direct trade for the week ending December 31st was light on a limited volume offering. Canfax reported sales at $309.00 cwt delivered on a dressed basis, up $2.00-$3.00 cwt from the previous weeks trade but not enough cattle sold to establish a price report. Delivery of the cattle sold was reported for the second half of January/early February delivery. This week a light trade developed on Wednesday and Thursday at $310.00 cwt delivered on a dressed basis, up $1.00 cwt from the previous week. Canfax notes: Live sales were around 183.00 FOB the feedlot. Cattle that traded this week were being scheduled for late January delivery. Light volumes of Alberta cattle traded to the U.S. Depending on freight and dressing percentage sales to the U.S. were working back to around 190.00 FOB the feedlot. Sales to the U.S. were at a 7.00 live premium over local deals. Cattle that traded to the U.S. would be picked up next week. The U.S. cash cattle trade the week December 30th was light with most business taking place on Thursday and Friday. Deals in the south were mainly $157.00 live, $1.00 cwt higher than the previous week. In the north dressed deals ranged from $248.00-$255.00 while live sales from ranged $158.00-$160.00, mainly $158.00. Overall prices for the week, reported by the USDA Mandatory Price report saw live steers average $157.81 up $1.55 cwt with heifers averaging $157.64 up $1.53 from the previous week. Dressed steers averaged $251.44 up $2.74 with heifers averaging $251.20 up $2.27. This week the U.S. cash cattle trade was basically at a standstill until Thursday morning, with business in the south fully steady to last week at $157.00 live. A few deals in the north were noted at $159.00-$159.50 live, up $1.00 cwt with dressed deals ranging from $248.00-$254.00, mainly $252.00 up $0.50-$1.00 cwt from the week before. This morning a light trade has surfaced in Nebraska at $252.00 dressed, fully steady to Thursday. Asking prices are currently sitting at $158.00 plus live in the south and $254.00 plus dressed in the north. Jamie Gamble - Beef Farmers of Ontarios market information report.