ONT Farm Market News PM Livestock Summary for November 4 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 a strong, active trade at steady prices. Large & Medium Steers over 900 lbs:$215.00 - $248.00 Large & Medium Steers 700-800 lbs:$220.00 - $244.50 Large & Medium Steers 500-600 lbs:$210.00 - $277.00 Large & Medium Heifers over 800 lbs:$192.72 - $223.45 Large & Medium Heifers 600-700 lbs:$189.00 - $222.00 Large & Medium Heifers 500-600 lbs:$206.00 - $245.00 From the Beef Farmers of Ontario, the Rail Grade Report. Prices are on carcass weight basis, before grade and weight discounts. Steers: $306.00 - $306.00 Heifers: $305.00 - $305.00 *From Ontario Pork: *Quebec's average price on Thursday was $214.97 per ckg D.W. 100 index. *The previous markets day's CME Constructed (201) price was $91.79 U.S. per cwt. D.W. *Compared to the previous day this was down $1.14 *Average weekly price /ckg DW total value $264.17 *Total volume of Ont. hogs sold was 110,338 * From the Beef Farmers of Ontario, the weekly beef commentary: Comments for the week ending November 3, 2022 Larger receipts of 439 fed steers and heifers sold through auction markets this week up 98 head from the previous week and 8 more than the same time last year. Fed steers sold from $175.03-$186.26 averaging $2.79 higher at $181.73 and $23.30 above last year at this time. Fed heifers ranged from $170.22-$185.04 up $2.28 on average at $178.09, and $19.65 stronger than year ago prices. Auction markets reported trade as active with prices steady to $1.00 cwt higher. The Ontario railgrade market this week started out the previous Friday with bids steady at $303.00 dressed for steers and $302.00 for heifers but sellers were noted as resisting the bids. On Monday a couple of deals were noted at $303.00 dressed for steers and $302.00 for heifers which is steady but volumes were very limited. By Wednesday, trade was reported at $306.00 dressed for steers and $305.00 for heifers, up $3.00 from last weeks trade. Delivery of the cattle sold was reported for the week of November 14th. This weeks average prices are up $1.50 from last week on average and $34.50 higher than this time last year. The Boxed Beef report by Kevin Grier notes last weeks market overview: Prices rose sharply last week as the seasonal demand for the ends kicked in and middle demand remained good. Holiday buying on middles spilled over to keep the spot middle market strong. Meanwhile, Canadian grocers continue to pay for U.S. demand while experiencing Canadian demand levels. Add in the weaker C$ to rub salt on the cost wound. Canadian retailers continue to struggle with the new regular price versus feature consumer buying patterns. Consumer resistance to higher regular priced items is causing case stocking re-balancing and new buying models. Regular turn business volumes are notably declining. 2,367 fed/cull cows sold through auction markets this week down 105 head from last week but 107 more than the same week last year, at lower prices. Cows ranged from $62.35-$98.00 averaging $78.84 down $4.55 from last week but $18.26 higher than last year at this time. Cows have declined by $20.24 on average, since the first week in October. Auction market reports were mixed with most reporting prices under pressure and considerably lower, with a couple steady to last weeks easier market. By mid-week prices were steady to $2.00 cwt stronger. 669 of the cows sold this week were beef cows up 109 head from last week, averaging $81.33 down $7.42 from last weeks beef cow average price. Generally this time of year we see cow volumes sold increasing to between 2500-3500 per week, however this could be reduced this year as one dairy incentive day has been added to both November and December. Lighter receipts of 7,435 stocker and feeder cattle sold through auctions this week down 2,765 from the previous week but 1,031 more than the same week last year. Auction markets reported calves as selling on a strong active trade at prices steady to fully steady, with one special sale noting stronger prices. As the week progressed trade was steady on top quality cattle with medium quality selling just steady to selectively. Yearlings sold $3.00-$5.00 cwt higher to start, but as the week progressed sales were noted as steady to stronger and ended steady with quality considered and second cut selling on a selective demand. Actual average prices saw steers 400-500 lbs down $5.55 from last week, 500-600 lbs down $16.09, 600-700 lbs down $8.74, 700-800 lbs down $12.44, 800-900 lbs down $0.60, 900-1000 lbs up $7.90 and steers 1000 lbs and over averaged $5.59 higher than last weeks weighted average prices. Heifers from 300-400 lbs were down $27.30, 400- 500 lbs down $24.97, 500-600 lbs down $24.49, 600-700 lbs down $18.52, 700-800 lbs down $16.04, 800-900 lbs down $10.10 and heifers 900 lbs plus averaged $7.12 easier than last week on average. Average prices continue at a premium to this time last year by $30.00-$60.00 cwt. Alberta direct trade this week was light to moderate with prices reported by Canfax from $303.00-$304.00 cwt delivered on a dressed basis, up $1.00- $2.00 from last week. Canfax reports: "A few cattle traded at 178.00 FOB lot, a couple dollars lower than last weeks weighted average prices. Cattle that traded this week were being scheduled for the middle of December delivery." The U.S. cash cattle trade the week ending October 28th was strong with business in the south at $148.00-$150.00 live, majority at $150.00 up $2.00 cwt from the previous weeks southern average price. In the north some live trade ranged from $150.00-$155.00, mostly $153.00 up $2.00 cwt, while dressed trade ranged from $235.00-$244.00, mainly $240.00 cwt. This weeks overall weighted average prices, reported by the USDA Mandatory Price Report, saw live steers average $151.95 up $1.88 with heifers at $152.12 up $2.26. On the rail steers averaged $239.85 up $4.57 cwt while heifers averaged $239.73 up $4.21. This week the U.S. cash cattle trade remained limited with just a couple of deals Wednesday at $149.00 live in Texas on some lower quality cattle, down $1.00 from last week, while a few deals in the north were noted at $153.00- $155.00 live and $242.00-$243.00 dressed, up $2.00-$3.00 cwt, but not enough sold to establish a trend. Thursday trade was light to moderate with sales mainly steady, to $2.00 cwt higher. Business in Texas was at $150.00 live on Thursday which is fully steady while in Kansas trade started out steady at $150.00 live but was up $1.00-$2.00 by days end from $151.00- $152.00, however the majority sold steady to last week. In the north live trade ranged from $153.00-$155.00 live, steady to $2.00 stronger, with dressed deals ranging from $236.00-$245.00, mainly $242.00 cwt up $2.00 from last week. Today the market is quiet with no bids on the table and it appears that business for the week is completed. Jamie Gamble - Beef Farmers of Ontarios market information report.