ONT Farm Market News PM Livestock Summary for October 21 Here is the Country Auction Report as collected by the Beef Farmers of Ontario Friday. * REPLACEMENT CATTLE: There were 1,950 head on offer at Brussels. Calves sold on a strong, active trade. Yearlings had not sold at the reporting time. Large & Medium Steers over 900 lbs:$182.37 - $230.80 Large & Medium Steers 700-800 lbs:$221.00 - $264.00 Large & Medium Steers 500-600 lbs:$230.00 - $283.00 Large & Medium Heifers over 800 lbs:$161.99 - $213.14 Large & Medium Heifers 600-700 lbs:$195.00 - $246.00 Large & Medium Heifers 500-600 lbs:$200.00 - $263.00 From the Beef Farmers of Ontario, the Rail Grade Report. Prices are on carcass weight basis, before grade and weight discounts. Steers: $303.00 - $303.00 Heifers: $302.00 - $302.00 *From Ontario Pork: *Quebec's average price on Thursday was $215.18 per ckg D.W. 100 index. *The previous markets day's CME Constructed (201) price was $93.96 U.S. per cwt. D.W. *Compared to the previous day this was up $0.41 *Average weekly price /ckg DW total value $262.5 *Total volume of Ont. hogs sold was 94402 * From the Beef Farmers of Ontario, the weekly beef commentary: Comments for the week ending October 20, 2022: 354 fed steers and heifers sold through Ontario auction markets this week up 144 head from the previous week but 54 fewer than the same time last year. Fed steers saw a range from $161.42-$185.96 averaging $177.66 down $4.51 from last week but $20.48 above year ago prices. This week the bottom end of the trading range is $10.00 cwt lower than last weeks range, bringing down the average due to quality. Fed heifers ranged from $160.34- $179.44 averaging $173.29 up $9.63 from last week and $22.73 stronger than last year at this time. Heifer quality was improved as the bottom end of this weeks range is up $21.00 cwt from last weeks bottom prices. Auction markets reported trade as active with prices steady to fully steady, with one market noting steady to stronger prices. The Ontario railgrade market was light this week with prices continuing sideways. Steers were reported at $303.00 dressed and $302.00 cwt for heifers, with a couple of steer deals at $306.00 with early delivery. Majority of the cattle trading this week were scheduled for delivery the week of October 31st to start, then the week of November 7th by Wednesday. Average prices remain $33.00 stronger than this time last year. Larger receipts of 2,768 fed/cull cows sold through auction markets this week up 1,042 head from last week and 95 more than the same time last year, with the largest weekly volume since the week ending February 10, 2022. Cows sold from $75.30-$116.50 with a weekly weighted average price of $93.69 down $4.20 from the previous week but $31.77 stronger than year ago prices. Auction markets reported trade as active early week with prices mostly easier, with one market noting a light offering up $5.00 cwt and another reporting prices down $10.00-$15.00 cwt week over week. By mid week, good quality cows were steady while plain and thin cows were easier. The market ended the week on a softer note. 687 beef cows sold this week up 228 head from last week, averaging $101.06 up $0.14 from last weeks beef cow weighted average price. The Boxed Beef Report by Kevin Grier notes an overview of last weeks trade: The U.S. cutout fell last week but the choice cutout was reasonably steady. Buyers are not happy with the choice meat supply, despite the large kills. After showing some signs of weakening, demand once again appears to be showing strength in the U.S. Canadian demand, on the other hand looks to be lethargic. Once again that means that retail and foodservice buyers are paying for U.S. demand in a Canadian market. To make matters worse, the weak C$ has meant that they are not enjoying the price slide that U.S. buyers have seen. 10,214 stocker and feeder cattle sold through auctions this week up 5,502 head from last week but 197 fewer than the same week last year. Auction markets reported calves as active on a steady to stronger market. Grass cattle were steady to stronger on good offerings of quality cattle. Yearlings steers were reported as steady with quality considered. Yearling heifers were steady for the most part, dependant on quality, with one report of prices $3.00-$5.00 higher the beginning of the week. Actual average prices this week saw steers 400-500 lbs down $2.94 from last week, 500-600 lbs down $2.48, 600-700 lbs up $3.72, 700-800 lbs up $7.75, 800-900 lbs down $2.75, 900-1000 lbs down $0.64 and steers 1000 lbs plus averaged $4.15 stronger than last week on average. Heifers from 300-400 lbs were up $13.43 on average, 400-500 lbs up $12.66, 500-600 lbs up $4.89, 600-700 lbs up $1.69, 700-800 lbs up $2.92, 800-900 lbs down 3.20 and heifers 900 lbs plus averaged $7.87 below last weeks weighted average price. Steers are averaging $45.00-$60.00 stronger than last year at this time, while heifers are up by $27.00-$47.00 cwt. Alberta direct trade was light on Wednesday and Thursday with prices reported by Canfax at $302.00 delivered on a dressed basis, up $2.00 cwt from last week. Canfax also notes: Cattle that traded this week were being scheduled for late November/early December delivery. Light volumes of Alberta fed cattle traded into the US and cattle would be picked up in a couple weeks. Alberta fed cash to cash and cash to futures basis levels are the weakest they have been all year. Feedlot inventories are not overly current as carcass weights remain record large. The U.S. cash cattle trade the week ending October 14th was at a standstill until Thursday with southern trade mainly $145.00 live, up $1.00 cwt from the previous week. In the north some live trade was noted from $145.00- $150.00 with dressed deals from $230.00-$232.00, most at $232.00 cwt up $1.00-$2.00 from the previous week. Overall trade for the week, as reported by the USDA Mandatory Price Report, saw live steers average $146.99 cwt up $0.76, while live heifers averaged $146.95 up $1.25. On the rail, steers averaged $231.60 dressed up $1.32, while heifers averaged $231.55, up $1.08 from the previous weeks trade. This week the U.S. cash cattle trade saw a few scattered deals in Iowa on Tuesday with prices reported at $150.00 live up $2.00-$3.00 from last weeks northern deals, while a couple of deals on the rail were noted at $232.00 dressed, steady to last week but not enough to establish a market as sellers held out for higher prices. Wednesday, a light test surfaced in most areas with business in the south at $147.00 live up $2.00 cwt while the north was mainly $150.00 live and $234.00 dressed on limited numbers, also up $2.00. Thursday moderate to active trade was reported at stronger prices with live trade in the south from $147.00-$148.00 live, majority at $148.00 up $3.00 cwt from the previous week. In the north, prices were up by $3.00-$4.00 cwt from $150.00-$152.00 live and $235.00-$236.00 dressed. Prices have not been this high since mid 2015. Today a couple of bids in Nebraska were noted at $236.00 dressed but no selling interest has developed, with asking prices holding firm at $150.00 live in the south and $238.00 plus dressed in the north. The Cattle on Feed Report is released today at 3:00 pm. Jamie Gamble - Beef Farmers of Ontarios market information report.