ONT Farm Market News PM Livestock Summary for March 17 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 and yearlings sold actively at steady prices. Large & Medium Steers over 900 lbs:$221.74 - $251.50 Large & Medium Steers 700-800 lbs:$263.00 - $294.00 Large & Medium Steers 500-600 lbs:$305.00 - $331.00 Large & Medium Heifers over 800 lbs:$209.23 - $241.70 Large & Medium Heifers 600-700 lbs:$232.00 - $266.00 Large & Medium Heifers 500-600 lbs:$248.00 - $278.00 From the Beef Farmers of Ontario, the Rail Grade Report. Prices are on carcass weight basis, before grade and weight discounts. Steers: $355.00 - $355.00 Heifers: $355.00 - $355.00 *From Ontario Pork: *Quebec's average price on Thursday was $198.43 per ckg D.W. 100 index. *The previous markets day's CME Constructed (201) price was $79.92 U.S. per cwt. D.W. *Compared to the previous day this was down $0.06 *Average weekly price /ckg DW total value $231.29 *Total volume of Ont. hogs sold was 100807 * From the Beef Farmers of Ontario, the weekly beef commentary: Comments for the week ending March 16, 2023 429 fed steers and heifers sold through auction markets this week, up 18 head from the previous week and 39 more than the same time last year. Fed steers ranged from $191.73-$218.09, averaging $207.62, up $1.40 from the previous week and $37.07 above year ago prices. Fed heifers sold from $197.43-$214.35, averaging $207.46 up $1.55 week over week and $39.08 stronger than this time last year. Auction markets reported trade as active with prices fully steady to sharply higher, and ended the week up $2.00 cwt. The Ontario railgrade market was quiet to start the week with no new trade reported. By Tuesday sales were reported at $353.00 cwt dressed for steers, up $3.00 cwt on average from the previous week. Heifers sold from $352.00-$353.00 cwt, also averaging $3.00 cwt stronger than the previous week. As the week progressed, steers and heifers were reported at $353.00- $355.00 cwt up $3.00-$5.00 cwt from last weeks average price. Delivery of the cattle sold this week was reported for the week of March 20th mainly, with some for the week of March 27th. U.S. packer interest remains strong in Ontario. The Boxed Beef Report by Kevin Grier this week noted the overview for last weeks boxed beef trade: Once again Canadian beef buyers are seeing U.S. prices but Canadian demand. That is compounded by the weaker dollar. The Canadian market is sluggish. Canadian consumers are looking but not buying at regular price levels. The only buying is on feature. Retailers and distributors are trimming orders for normal turn business and features. Beef features will not be attractive this spring. Meanwhile in the U.S. the underlying demand looks to be off last years torrid pace, but still solid. Packers are keeping kills under control and buyers know that tight supplies loom in late spring. The fed/cull cow market continued strong with 2,360 head sold through auction markets, up 153 from the previous week and 185 more than the same week last year. Cows ranged from $95.02-$131.62 with a weekly weighted average price of $111.21 up $1.08 from the previous week on average and $17.18 higher than year ago prices. Auction markets reported a good demand on a stronger market with prices $2.00-$5.00 cwt higher, with one market noting beef cows steady while dairy breeds were slightly easier. 398 of the cows sold this week were beef cows, up 55 head from the previous week, averaging $117.90 up $1.13 cwt from last weeks weighted average beef cow price. Larger receipts of stocker and feeder cattle were on offer this week at 5,326 head, up 1,774 from the previous week and 1,310 more than the same time last year. Auction markets reported trade as strong and active with calves selling $3.00-$5.00 cwt higher to start. As the week progressed, trade was up $10.00-$15.00 cwt and by mid week prices were reported as stronger. Heavier cattle started out steady. As the week progressed trade was up $3.00-$5.00 cwt and by mid week trade was active at steady to higher prices. The market ended with week with heifer calves selling stronger and steer calves and yearlings steady with non-vaccinated calves selling easier at one market and all cattle trading $3.00-$4.00 higher reported by another. Actual average prices this week saw steers from 400-500 lbs down $5.77 over the previous week, 500-600 lbs up $9.82, 600-700 lbs up $11.48, 700-800 lbs up $22.44, 800-900 lbs up $18.48, 900-1000 lbs up $3.54 while steers 1000 lbs plus averaged $5.65 easier than last weeks weighted average prices. Heifers from 300-400 lbs were down $24.63 on average, 400-500 lbs down $7.33, 500-600 lbs up $11.18, 600-700 lbs up $12.01, 700-800 lbs up $10.45, 800-900 lbs up $14.83 and heifers 900 lbs plus averaged $6.45 higher than last weeks weighted average prices.The Quebec electronic market this week was reported at $355.00 cwt dressed on a picked-up basis, up $3.75 cwt from the previous weeks average price. Alberta direct trade was light on Wednesday and Thursday with prices up $6.00 cwt from the previous week at $348.00 delivered on a dressed basis. Canfax reports: Cattle that traded this week were being scheduled for late March delivery. Alberta fed cash to futures basis did strengthen this week. Tentatively basis levels are the strongest since September. This weeks cash offering has been cleaned up. The U.S. cash cattle trade the week ending March 11th took place mainly Thursday and Friday. On a live basis, sales were reported by the USDA Mandatory Price Report from $161.50-$168.00 in both the north and south with prices averaging $165.10 live for steers up $0.08 and $164.99 for heifers up $0.10. The lower prices were on some muddy cattle in the north. On the rail prices ranged from $262.00-$268.50 dressed with steers averaging $265.32 up $0.89 and heifers at $266.30 up $1.85 cwt. This week the U.S. cash cattle trade saw a few deals Tuesday in parts of the north, with prices sitting from $161.00-$166.00 live, mainly $164.00 down $1.00 cwt, with dressed trade from $260.00-$265.00, most at $265.00 which is steady, but not enough sold to establish this weeks market. On Wednesday, trade was light to moderate in both the north and the south. Live trade in the south ranged from $163.00-$164.00, mainly $164.00 down $1.00 cwt. In the north live trade was mainly $164.00 live with dressed deals $260.00-$265.00, majority at $264.00 cwt also down $1.00-$1.50 from the previous week. Thursday a few deals were reported at prices steady to Wednesdays market. Economic turmoil in the US this week pushed futures lower. Lower futures and slightly lower boxed beef prices this week played a part in the slightly easier cattle prices. Asking prices on the few remaining cattle are noted at $165.00 plus live in the south and $265.00 plus dressed in the north but it appears the bulk of trade is completed. Jamie Gamble - Beef Farmers of Ontarios market information report.