ONT Farm Market News PM Livestock Summary for May 5 Here is the Country Auction Report as collected by the Beef Farmers of Ontario Friday. * REPLACEMENT CATTLE: There were 1,250 head on offer at Brussels. Calves sold on a very active trade at prices $5.00-$10.00 higher. Yearlings had not sold at the reporting time. Large & Medium Steers over 900 lbs:$223.54 - $283.35 Large & Medium Steers 700-800 lbs:$257.50 - $316.00 Large & Medium Steers 500-600 lbs:$275.00 - $367.50 Large & Medium Heifers over 800 lbs:$177.43 - $269.24 Large & Medium Heifers 600-700 lbs:$235.00 - $291.00 Large & Medium Heifers 500-600 lbs:$245.00 - $323.00 From the Beef Farmers of Ontario, the Rail Grade Report. Prices are on carcass weight basis, before grade and weight discounts. Steers: $375.00 - $375.00 Heifers: $374.00 - $374.00 *From Ontario Pork: *Quebec's average price on Thursday was $175 per ckg D.W. 100 index. *The previous markets day's CME Constructed (201) price was $74.57 U.S. per cwt. D.W. *Compared to the previous day this was up $0.66 *Average weekly price /ckg DW total value $212.48 *Total volume of Ont. hogs sold was 111370 * From the Beef Farmers of Ontario, the weekly beef commentary: Comments for the week ending May 4, 2023: 575 fed steers and heifers sold through auction markets this week in Ontario, up 91 head from last week and 164 more than this time last year. Fed steers ranged from $218.58-$229.72 with a weekly weighted average price of $225.01 cwt, up $4.21 from the week before and $49.36 stronger than year ago prices. Fed heifers sold from $213.07-$227.63, averaging $222.41, up $4.76 from the previous week on average and $49.51 higher than this time last year. Auction markets reported trade as active with prices fully steady and firm, to stronger. The Ontario railgrade market was light this week with prices holding fully steady at $375.00 cwt dressed for steers and $374.00 cwt for heifers. Cattle sold this week were scheduled for delivery anywhere from next week to the week of May 29th depending on which packer purchased the cattle. Light volumes sold to the U.S. again this week. This weeks average price is up $76.00 cwt over last year at this time. 2,080 fed/cull cows sold through auction markets this week up 128 head from the previous week but 80 fewer than this time last year. Cows sold from $95.22-$136.93 with a weekly weighted average price of $115.15 up $3.06 cwt from the week before and $21.92 stronger than year ago prices. Auction markets reported trade as steady for the most part, with one market noting barely steady prices while another saw price increases of $4.00-$5.00 cwt. The market ended the week on good demand at higher prices. This week saw 524 beef cows sold, up 51 head from last week, averaging $126.90 up $7.75 cwt from the previous weeks weighted average beef cow price. 7,822 stocker and feeder cattle sold through auction markets this week up 1,569 head from the week before and 633 more than this time last year with 4 special spring stocker sales included. Auction markets reported calves as steady to stronger, on strong demand with good quality stronger and non- vaccinated easier. Yearlings/heavier cattle sold $5.00-$10.00 higher to start. As the week progressed trade was slightly higher to stronger. Excellent quality vaccinated grass cattle were reported as fully steady to mostly higher. Actual average prices this week saw steers 400-500 lbs up $27.09, 500-600 lbs up $27.55, 600-700 lbs up $30.95, 700-800 lbs up $10.68, 800-900 lbs up $6.88, 900-1000 lbs up $9.82 and steers 1000 lbs plus averaged $9.44 higher than last week on average. Heifers from 300-400 lbs were up $20.43 cwt, 400-500 lbs up $44.31, 500-600 lbs up $35.56, 600-700 lbs up $31.23, 700-800 lbs up $25.37, 800-900 lbs up $20.94 and heifers 900 lbs and over averaged $8.20 cwt higher than last weeks weighted average price. The Quebec electronic market this week ranged from $370.00-$372.25 cwt dressed on a picked-up basis, down $0.19 cwt from last week on average. Alberta direct trade continued to strengthen again this week with prices reported at $385.00-$387.00 cwt delivered on a dressed basis, up $3.00- $5.00 cwt. Canfax reports: Live sales were reported around 230.00 FOB the feedlot, $5.00/cwt higher than last weeks weighted average price. Over the past seven weeks fed cattle prices have rallied $20.00/cwt. Cattle that traded this week were being scheduled anywhere from immediate delivery to early June delivery depending on which packer bought the cattle. Early May is traditionally when we see the largest sale volumes of the year. That has not been the case this year as sale volumes remain light. The U.S. cash cattle trade the week ending April 28th was easier with trade in the south from $171.00-$173.00 live, mostly $172.00-$173.00 down $1.00- $2.00 cwt. In the north live trade was down $3.00-$4.00 from $174.00- $183.00 with dressed trade from $275.00-$285.00, mainly $283.00-$285.00. Overall average prices for the week reported by the USDA Mandatory Price Report saw live steers averaging $177.15 down $1.42 cwt with heifers averaging $177.38 down $0.73. On the rail steers averaged $284.05 down $3.37 while heifers averaged $284.17 down $3.07. This week the U.S. cash cattle trade was light to moderate Tuesday and Wednesday with business in the south $170.00-$172.00 live with a few in Texas at $174.00, but mainly $172.00 down $1.00 cwt from last weeks southern trade. Business in the north ranged from $176.00-$181.00 live, mainly $176.00 down $2.00-$3.00 cwt and $275.00-$285.00 dressed, majority from $280.00-$281.00 down $3.00-$4.00 cwt from last weeks northern trade. Today the market is quiet and it appears the bulk of trade is completed. Jamie Gamble - Beef Farmers of Ontarios market information report.