ONT Farm Market News PM Livestock Summary for May 6 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 steady, with grass-type cattle bringing a premium. Yearlings had not sold at the reporting time. Large & Medium Steers over 900 lbs:$175.32 - $191.02 Large & Medium Steers 700-800 lbs:$212.00 - $241.00 Large & Medium Steers 500-600 lbs:$226.00 - $289.00 Large & Medium Heifers over 800 lbs:$157.53 - $186.31 Large & Medium Heifers 600-700 lbs:$164.00 - $222.00 Large & Medium Heifers 500-600 lbs:$170.00 - $234.00 From the Beef Farmers of Ontario, the Rail Grade Report. Prices are on carcass weight basis, before grade and weight discounts. Steers: $300.00 - $300.00 Heifers: $299.00 - $300.00 *From Ontario Pork: *Quebec's average price on Thursday was $203.3 per ckg D.W. 100 index. *The previous markets day's CME Constructed (201) price was $100.78 U.S. per cwt. D.W. *Compared to the previous day this was up $0.35 *Average weekly price /ckg DW total value $262.16 *Total volume of Ont. hogs sold was 106209 * From the Beef Farmers of Ontario, the weekly beef commentary: Comments for the week ending May 5, 2022 : There were 411 fed steers and heifers sold through auction markets this week, down 82 head from last week and 225 fewer than the same time last year. Fed steers ranged from $169.16-$181.44, averaging $175.65, up $3.64 from last week and $29.93 stronger than year ago prices. Fed heifers traded from $164.58-$178.21, averaging $172.90, down $0.33 from the previous week but $28.36 stronger than last year at this time. Auction markets reported as fully steady to start but as the week progressed sales were steady to slightly stronger, up $1.00-$2.00 cwt. The Ontario railgrade market moved higher again this week with steers starting out the previous Friday steady at $295.00 dressed and heifers $294.00-$295.00. This week trade was being reported at $300.00 dressed for steers and $299.00-$300.00 for heifers, with the weekly average $4.00 stronger than the previous week. Delivery of the cattle sold this week is reported for the week of May 16th. The Ontario railgrade price has not been this high since mid-May to mid-June 2017 at $297.00. This weeks average price is up $48.00 from this time last year. Ontario Provincial processing numbers for March 2022 reported volumes of fed steers and heifers up from February. First quarter 2022 processing volumes are at 22,928 head, up 10.8% from 2021 and 36.4% more than the Jan-Mar figures for 2020. 2,160 fed/cull cows were sold through auction markets this week down 113 head from last week and 140 fewer than the same time last year. Cows sold from $79.14-$109.56 averaging $93.23 down $0.13 from last weeks weighted average price but $16.03 stronger than last year. Auction markets reported active trading on excellent demand. Prices were reported mostly as steady with one market noting prices steady on the beef cows and easier to slightly lower on the dairy breeds, while another market saw stronger prices. The market ended the week at steady prices. There were 688 beef cows sold this week which is steady in volume to last week but high for this time of year. So far this year there has been 7,621 beef cows sold through auctions, up 11% from last year at this time and 8% more than this time in 2020. Beef cows averaged $96.65 cwt this week, down $1.65 from last weeks weighted average beef cow price. 7,189 stocker and feeder cattle sold through auction markets this week down 2,629 head from last week and 515 fewer than the same time last year. Auction markets reported calves as steady to stronger, with grass calves bringing a premium and top quality up $3.00-$5.00 cwt. Yearlings were noted as steady to easier to start, with one all vaccinated sale noting heavier cattle higher. As the week progressed heavier cattle were barely steady. Actual average prices this week saw steers 400-500 lbs up $14.91 from last week, 500-600 lbs up $15.02, 600-700 lbs up $9.36, 700- 800 lbs up $5.88, 800-900 lbs up $1.71, 900-1000 lbs up $0.55 and steers 1000 lbs plus averaged $5.19 easier than last week on average. Heifers from 300-400 lbs were up $35.71 on average, 400-500 lbs down $7.39, 500-600 lbs up $9.41, 600-700 lbs up $6.95, 700-800 lbs up $5.65, 800- 900 lbs down $3.90 and heifers 900 lbs and over averaged $8.17 below last weeks weighted average price. All classes of cattle are averaging higher than this time last year with the exception of heifers in the 400-500 lb range. The Quebec electronic market this week ranged from $302.00-$303.00 dressed cwt on a picked-up basis, down $0.88 from last week on average. Alberta direct trade was light Wednesday with prices steady to $4.00 cwt higher than last week notes Canfax, with sales from $284.00-$286.00 delivered on a dressed basis. Thursday a light trade surfaced at $285.00 dressed, steady to $1.00 below Wednesday. Canfax notes that not enough heifers sold to establish a market. Canfax reported: Competition on the cash market remains decent with all three western Canadian packers showing interest. US buying interest continues to be light. Even with more fed calves entering the slaughter mix, Prime and AAA grading remains near record high. The U.S. cash cattle trade for the week ending April 29th was active with trade starting on Monday and continuing through to Wednesday with prices holding steady the previous week. In the south trade was noted from $139.00-$141.00 live, mainly $140.00. In the north dressed deals ranged from $225.00-$238.00, averaging around $232.00 which is steady on the steers and a touch stronger on the heifers, while live trade in the north ranged from $145.00-$148.00, mostly $145.00-$147.00 which is steady. Final results posted by the USDA Mandatory Price Report, saw prices overall live steers average $143.34 up $0.32 with heifers averaging $142.48 down $0.43. On the rail steers averaged $232.31 up $0.02 with heifers averaging $232.62 up $1.67 from the previous week. This week, the U.S. cash cattle trade has been active with trade starting on Tuesday and continuing through to Wednesday with prices holding steady. In the south trade was noted from $139.00-$141.00 live, mainly $140.00. In the north dressed deals ranged from $230.00-$234.00, averaging around $231.00-$232.00 which is steady to a touch softer, while live trade in the north ranged from $144.00-$149.00, mainly $146.00 which is steady. Thursday saw a few clean up deals at steady prices. Today, the market is quiet and it appears that business for the week is completed. Jamie Gamble - Beef Farmers of Ontarios market information report.