ONT Farm Market News PM Livestock Summary for May 20 Here is the Country Auction Report as collected by the Beef Farmers of Ontario Friday. * REPLACEMENT CATTLE: There were 1,200 head on offer at Brussels. Calves and yearlings sold on an active market at steady prices, with steers and heifers from 700-800 lbs bringing a premium. Large & Medium Steers over 900 lbs:$159.14 - $191.75 Large & Medium Steers 700-800 lbs:$204.50 - $241.00 Large & Medium Steers 500-600 lbs:$210.00 - $251.50 Large & Medium Heifers over 800 lbs:$154.72 - $187.75 Large & Medium Heifers 600-700 lbs:$177.00 - $207.50 Large & Medium Heifers 500-600 lbs:$164.00 - $224.00 From the Beef Farmers of Ontario, the Rail Grade Report. Prices are on carcass weight basis, before grade and weight discounts. Steers: $305.00 - $305.00 Heifers: $304.00 - $305.00 *From Ontario Pork: *Quebec's average price on Thursday was $201.32 per ckg D.W. 100 index. *The previous markets day's CME Constructed (201) price was $100.67 U.S. per cwt. D.W. *Compared to the previous day this was up $0.59 *Average weekly price /ckg DW total value $258.39 *Total volume of Ont. hogs sold was 99410 * From the Beef Farmers of Ontario, the weekly beef commentary: Comments for the week ending May 19, 2022: There were 483 fed steers and heifers sold through auction markets, noting twice as many heifers than steers, with this weeks volume up 252 head from last week, and 135 more than this time last year. Fed steers sold from $165.23-$185.08, averaging $178.39, down $0.48 from last week but $31.18 stronger than year ago prices. Fed heifers ranged from $173.20-$184.54 averaging $179.56 up $6.60 from last week and $34.17 above last year at this time. Auction markets reported this weeks trade as strong on a good demand with prices slightly higher to $1.00-$4.00 cwt stronger. The Ontario railgrade market this week was quiet the previous Friday with no trade reported. On Monday a couple of deals were noted at steady money of $300.00 dressed for steers and $299.00-$300.00 for heifers. By Tuesday prices improved to $305.00 with a couple at $306.00 for steers and $304.00-$305.00 for heifers, mainly $305.00, and held at this point the remainder of the week. This weeks average price is up $3.50 from last week with delivery of the cattle sold reported for the week of May 23rd. Prices this week averaged $49.25 above the same time last year. Ontario Federal processing volumes as of May 14, 2022 total 233,104 head up 1.5% from the same time in 2021 and 6.2% above 2020. In the mix steer volumes as of May 14, 2022 are up 2% from last year and 3.3% more than May 14, 2020. Heifer volumes are down 15% from 2021 and 8.7% below May 14, 2020. Cow volumes as of May 14, 2022 are up 18.6% from 2021 and 41% higher than the same time in 2020. There were 2,282 fed/cull cows sold through auction markets this week up 723 from last weeks very light offering and 339 more than the same week last year. Cows sold from $84.72-$114.18 averaging $98.56 down $0.18 from last week but $17.03 higher than last year at this time. Auction markets reported a strong active trade with prices slightly higher to higher. Beef cows this week were up slightly in volume from last week with 597 head sold averaging $106.26 up $2.45 from last weeks beef cow weighted average price. Stocker and feeder cattle volumes will soon start to seasonally decline as the spring run winds down. There were 6,381 head sold through auction markets this week up 249 from last week and 1,316 more than the same week last year. Auction markets reported calves as steady to stronger with grass cattle continuing to see a premium on good buyer demand. Yearlings were steady to firm, but stronger by mid week and steady at weeks end. Actual average prices this week saw steers 400-500 lbs up $2.18, 500-600 lbs up $0.35, 600-700 lbs up $3.42, 700-800 lbs up $3.62, 800-900 lbs up $3.53, 900-1000 lbs up $3.97 and steers 1000 lbs and over averaged $5.23 above last weeks weighted average prices. Heifers from 300-400 lbs were down $13.59 on very light receipts, 400-500 lbs up $9.95, 500-600 lbs up $5.04, 600-700 lbs up $6.28, 700-800 lbs up $7.29, 800-900 lbs down $0.32 and heifers 900 lbs plus averaged $0.20 above last week on average. All weight categories (with the exception of heifers 300-400 lbs) were higher than last year at this time with steers $22.00- $37.00 higher cwt and heifers up by $2.00-$25.00 cwt. The Quebec electronic market this week sold at $302.00 dressed cwt on a picked-up basis, down $2.44 from last week on average. Alberta direct trade on Wednesday was steady to $3.00 cwt higher with prices reported from $288.00-$293.00 delivered on a dressed basis. Thursday saw a light trade at $288.00 which is steady to the bottom of last weeks market but overall trade this week is up $2.00 cwt. Canfax notes: Most of the cattle that traded this week were being scheduled for the weeks June 13th to 20th delivery. Sale volume wise, western Canadian packers did get quite a few cattle bought. This weeks cash offering has been cleaned up. The U.S. cash cattle trade for the week ending May 13th was light to moderate in volume but lighter than the previous week. In the south trade ranged from $137.00-$141.00 live, mainly $140.00 which is steady to the previous weeks southern trade. Business in the north was $1.00-$2.00 easier with live sales from $144.00-$148.00, mostly $144.00 while dressed trade saw a full range from $222.00-$230.00 cwt averaging around $229.00 cwt. Overall average prices for the week reported by the USDA Mandatory Price Report saw live steers average $142.44 down $0.98 while heifers averaged $141.49 down 1.03. On the rail steers averaged $228.82 down $1.87 with heifers averaging $229.40 down $2.46. Although the north was easier prices are still at a premium to the south. This week, the U.S. cash cattle trade started on Tuesday and carried on until Thursday. Business in the south was $2.00 lower at mostly $138.00 live with a full trading range from $136.00-$138.00. In the north trade was down $3.00 on a dressed basis at mainly $226.00 dressed with a full trading range of $223.00-$228.00. Some live trade in the north was noted from $140.00-$145.00, most at $142.00 down $2.00. Today the market is quiet and it appears that business for the week is completed. The Cattle On Feed report will be release this afternoon with analysts predicting a decline in on feed numbers. Jamie Gamble - Beef Farmers of Ontarios market information report.