ONT Farm Market News PM Livestock Summary for March 3 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 fully active trade at steady prices to last week's high market. Large & Medium Steers over 900 lbs:$220.54 - $264.24 Large & Medium Steers 700-800 lbs:$231.00 - $285.00 Large & Medium Steers 500-600 lbs:$270.00 - $345.00 Large & Medium Heifers over 800 lbs:$220.28 - $246.44 Large & Medium Heifers 600-700 lbs:$227.00 - $274.00 Large & Medium Heifers 500-600 lbs:$205.00 - $256.00 From the Beef Farmers of Ontario, the Rail Grade Report. Prices are on carcass weight basis, before grade and weight discounts. Steers: $342.00 - $342.00 Heifers: $341.00 - $342.00 *From Ontario Pork: *Quebec's average price on Thursday was $193.6 per ckg D.W. 100 index. *The previous markets day's CME Constructed (201) price was $78.61 U.S. per cwt. D.W. *Compared to the previous day this was down $0.08 *Average weekly price /ckg DW total value $220.57 *Total volume of Ont. hogs sold was 91692 * From the Beef Farmers of Ontario, the weekly beef commentary: Comments for the week ending March 2, 2023: The fed cattle market saw a strong demand this week, with 382 head sold through auction markets, up 52 head from the previous week and 65 more than the same time last year. In the mix, 145 were steers while 237 head were heifers. Fed steers sold from $197.22-$210.07 with a weekly weighted average price of $205.02 up $8.79 from the previous week and $35.94 stronger than year ago prices. Fed heifers ranged from $189.89-$208.16 averaging $200.21 up $3.32 from the week before and $32.56 above year ago prices. Auction markets reported prices anywhere from $2.00-$5.00 cwt stronger. The Ontario railgrade market this week was up $4.00 cwt on average with steers reported at $342.00 dressed with heifers from $341.00-$342.00 cwt, with delivery mainly the week of March 6th. Most of this weeks trade took place the first half of the week. This weeks average prices are $52.00 cwt above this time last year. On March 1, 2023 Stats Canada released the January 1st Cattle Inventory Report. Fed steer volumes on Ontario Farms on Jan 1, 2023 totaled 273,600 head up 4.5% from Jan 1, 2022 and up 12.3% from Jan 1, 2021. Fed heifer volumes on Jan 1, 2023 were reported at 120,100 head up 2% from Jan 1, 2022 but 3.8% below Jan 1, 2021. The overall total volume on Ontario farms of fed cattle was 393,700 head, which is the largest overall volume for Jan 1st since 2019. Beef replacement heifer volumes on Ontario Farms as of Jan 1, 2023 are reported at 34,300 head down just 0.5% from Jan 1, 2022 but 3% fewer than Jan 1, 2021. Beef cow volumes on Ontario farms as of Jan 1, 2023 are up from the previous January but down from the higher July 2022 volumes by 5%. As of Jan 1, 2023 there are 225,300 head of beef cows up 3% from last January but 5% fewer than Jan 1, 2021. The Stats Canada report listed 430,400 stocker cattle on Ontario farms on Jan 1, 2023 down 5% from Jan 1, 2022 and 1.3% less than Jan 1, 2021. Volumes were up slightly from the previous July but the increase from July to January was much lighter than typically noted. Larger receipts of 2,173 fed/cull cows sold through auction markets this week up 166 from the previous week and 72 more than the same time last year. As of February 28, 2023 there was 21,801 cows sold through Ontario auction markets, up 2.8% from 2022 but 10% fewer than the same time in 2021. Dairy cow volumes are up 0.3% as of February 28, 2023 from last year but 15.6% fewer than 2021. Beef cow volumes are up 17.8% over 2022 and up 32.6% compared to February 28, 2021. Cows this week sold from $89.04- $127.37 with a weekly weighted average price of $107.02 up $6.72 from the week before and $21.29 stronger than year ago prices. Auction markets reported active trading with prices steady to higher early week, but as the week progressed the market was up $2.00-$6.00 cwt. 303 of this weeks offering were beef cows up 38 from last week, averaging $111.88 up $5.84 cwt from last weeks beef cow average price. A slightly lighter offering of stocker and feeder cattle this week was noted with 2,782 head sold through auction markets, down 724 head from last week and 449 fewer than this time last year. Auction markets reported calves at prices $3.00-$5.00 higher to start, while yearlings were fully steady. By mid week yearlings were selling actively at stronger prices. By weeks end calves were steady to higher, with quality considered and good quality cattle were higher. Actual average prices this week saw steers from 400-500 lbs up $0.27 cwt on average, 500-600 lbs down $16.66, 600-700 lbs down $3.53, 700-800 lbs down 4.41, 800-900 lbs up $11.24, 900-1000 lbs up $12.34 and steers 1000 lbs plus averaged $2.64 easier than last week on average. Heifers from 300-400 lbs were up $30.34 from last week, 400-500 lbs up $7.03, 500-600 lbs down $2.02, 600-700 lbs down $16.29, 700-800 lbs up $12.44, 800-900 lbs up $14.90 and heifers 900 lbs and over averaged $6.53 higher than last weeks weighted average prices. The Quebec electronic market this week was reported at $348.00 cwt dressed on a picked-up basis, up $13.00 cwt from the previous weeks trade. Alberta direct trade this week was reported by Canfax as light with prices at $338.00 cwt delivered on a dressed basis, up around $3.00-$6.00 cwt from last weeks trade with delivery the second half of March. Canfax reports: Competition on the cash market remained limited with one packer buying most of the cattle. This week most of the cash sales were reported flat with no heavy weight carcass discounts. The U.S. cash cattle trade the week February 24th was light to moderate in the north on Thursday and Friday with prices reported from $257.00-$262.00 dressed, mainly $260.00-$262.00 up $3.00-$5.00 cwt with some live deals mainly $162.00-$164.00 cwt up $2.00-$4.00 from the previous weeks northern trade. In the south business was light late Friday and into Saturday with prices reported from $164.00-$165.00 live, up $2.00-$3.00 cwt. Overall prices for the week reported by the USDA Mandatory Price Report saw live steers average $163.75 up $2.59 and heifers $163.64 up $2.77 cwt. On the rail steers averaged $260.97 dressed, up $4.19 while heifers averaged $261.73 up $5.13 from the previous weeks trade. This week the U.S. cash cattle trade was quiet with just a light test Tuesday in Iowa at 165.00 live, up $1.00 from last week on average but not enough sold to establish a market. A couple of deals were also noted from $262.00- $265.00 dressed up $2.00-$4.00 from last weeks sales, but again, sales were too scattered to establish a market. Wednesday a light test was reported in the north from $161.00-$166.00 live, mainly $165.00 up $1.00 cwt while the south remained untested. Thursday, a light trade in the north was reported from $163.00-$166.00 live, mainly $165.00 up $1.00 cwt while dressed deals ranged from $262.00-$263.00 up $1.00-$2.00. Today, a light trade is developing with business in the south at $165.00 live up $1.00 from last week while in the north dressed trade is reported at $265.00 dressed up $4.00 from last week on average. Business is expected to continue this afternoon but it appears the market tone is higher. Jamie Gamble - Beef Farmers of Ontarios market information report.