ONT Farm Market News PM Livestock Summary for March 10 Here is the Country Auction Report as collected by the Beef Farmers of Ontario Friday. * REPLACEMENT CATTLE: There were 1,275 head on offer at Brussels. Calves sold on a strong and active trade at prices $3.00-$5.00 higher. Yearlings had not sold at the reporting time. Large & Medium Steers over 900 lbs:$249.71 - $275.22 Large & Medium Steers 700-800 lbs:$273.00 - $307.00 Large & Medium Steers 500-600 lbs:$275.00 - $374.00 Large & Medium Heifers over 800 lbs:$227.00 - $245.27 Large & Medium Heifers 600-700 lbs:$217.00 - $272.00 Large & Medium Heifers 500-600 lbs:$222.50 - $289.00 From the Beef Farmers of Ontario, the Rail Grade Report. Prices are on carcass weight basis, before grade and weight discounts. Steers: $350.00 - $350.00 Heifers: $349.00 - $350.00 *From Ontario Pork: *Quebec's average price on Thursday was $197.22 per ckg D.W. 100 index. *The previous markets day's CME Constructed (201) price was $79.42 U.S. per cwt. D.W. *Compared to the previous day this was up $0.05 *Average weekly price /ckg DW total value $220.87 *Total volume of Ont. hogs sold was 117652 * From the Beef Farmers of Ontario, the weekly beef commentary: Comments for the week ending March 9, 2023: The fed cattle market saw another strong week of trade with 411 head sold through auction markets, up 29 from the previous week and 93 more than this time last year. Fed steers ranged from $194.93-$214.95, averaging $206.22, up $1.20 cwt from the previous week and $38.09 stronger than year ago prices. Fed heifers sold from $196.51-$212.21, averaging $205.91, up $5.71 from last week and $38.23 higher than the same time last year. Auction markets reported trade as fully steady to the previous weeks higher market to $3.00-$5.00 cwt higher. The Ontario railgrade market continued to trend higher with prices up $8.00 cwt on average this week over last. Sales for steers were reported at mainly $350.00 dressed with a couple at $352.00, while heifers sold from $349.00- $350.00 cwt dressed. The cattle that sold this week were reported for delivery the week of March 13th. There were reports of cattle sold to the south at a premium to the local deals. Prices are currently averaging $60.00 cwt above year ago prices. Statistics Canada released the January 2023 export volumes this week for Ontario cattle heading south of the border for processing. In the month of January 2023 there were 1,123 head of Ontario steers exported to the US up 813% over last January while heifer volumes were up 156% at 3,634 head. Cull cows were up 96% compared to last January at 8,175 head and bulls were up 23% at 53 head. The total cattle export volume from Ontario to the US for processing in January is 12,985 head, which is the largest monthly export volume recorded since December 2014. On the feeder cattle there were 859 head exported to the US in January 2023 up 33% over January 2022 and the largest feeder cattle export monthly volume since August 2020. A good demand for fed/cull cows was noted this week with 2,207 head selling through auction markets, up 34 from the previous week fully steady to the same time last year. Cows ranged from $93.58-$128.23 with a weekly average price of $110.13 up $3.11 cwt from the week before and $17.92 stronger than year ago prices. Auction markets reported active trading on good demand with prices strong to higher, with one market quoting prices up $5.00-$6.00 from the previous week. The market ended the week stronger and higher. 343 of the cows sold this week were beef cows, up 40 head from the previous week, averaging $116.77 up $4.89 cwt from last weeks weighted average beef cow price. There were 3,552 stocker and feeder cattle sold through auction markets this week up 770 head from the previous week and 394 fewer than the same week last year. Auction markets reported calves as fully steady to higher on good demand, with quality considered to start the week. By weeks end calves were selling strong at higher prices. Heavier cattle were noted as selling fully steady to start. As the week progressed heavy cattle were noted as trading on a good demand at stronger prices. Actual average prices this week saw steers 400-500 lbs up $19.01 cwt from last week, 500-600 lbs up $20.36, 600-700 lbs down $4.99, 700-800 lbs down $9.19, 800-900 lbs down $14.75, 900-1000 lbs down $2.84 while steers 1000 lbs and over averaged $1.54 stronger than the previous weeks weighted average prices. Heifers from 300-400 lbs sold $10.62 stronger on average, 400-500 lbs up $7.93, 500-600 lbs up $18.11, 600-700 lbs up $6.07, 700-800 lbs down $14.62, 800-900 lbs down $6.80 and heifers 900 lbs and over averaged $7.45 lower than last weeks weighted average prices. The Quebec electronic market this week was reported from $350.75-$351.75 cwt dressed on a picked-up basis, up $3.25 cwt from the previous weeks average prices. Alberta direct trade this week was light with Canfax reporting sales at $342.00 cwt delivered on a dressed basis, up $4.00 cwt from last weeks trade. Canfax notes: Cattle that traded were being scheduled for the second half of March delivery. Competition on the cash market remains limited with one packer buying most of the cattle. Some of this weeks offering will be carried over to next week. The U.S. cash cattle trade the week ending March 3rd took place mainly on Friday afternoon with business in the south from $164.00-$165.50, mainly $165.00 up $1.00 cwt. In the north sales ranged from $161.00-$166.00 live, with the lower end reported as muddy cattle, while dressed deals ranged from $262.00-$268.00 cwt. Overall average prices for the week reported by the USDA Mandatory Price Report saw live steers average $165.02 up $1.30 while heifers averaged $164.89 up $1.25. On the rail, steers averaged $264.43 dressed up $3.46 with heifers averaging $264.45 up $2.72. This week the U.S. cash cattle trade has been quiet with just a handful of sales in Iowa from $165.00-$166.50 live and $262.00-$264.00 dressed, barely steady to steady to last week but not enough have sold to establish a market. Thursday a light to moderate trade developed with sales in the south mainly reported at $165.00 live, fully steady to last weeks trade with a full trading range noted from $165.00-$168.00 in both the north and south. Dressed deals in the north ranged from $262.00-$268.50 dressed, mainly $265.00 which is also fully steady to last weeks prices. Today a light test continues in the south at steady prices of $165.00 live, while bids in the north are sitting at $165.00 live and $265.00 dressed, also steady but no trade has developed there today. Asking prices on the remaining cattle are noted at $167.00 plus live in the south and $267.00 plus dressed in the north. Jamie Gamble - Beef Farmers of Ontarios market information report.