ONT Farm Market News PM Livestock Summary for September 15 Here is the Country Auction Report as collected by the Beef Farmers of Ontario Friday. * REPLACEMENT CATTLE: There were 1,100 head on offer at Brussels. Calves sold $5.00-$10.00 higher. Yearings sold steady to higher at the reporting time. Large & Medium Steers over 900 lbs:$275.66 - $310.86 Large & Medium Steers 700-800 lbs:$307.00 - $351.00 Large & Medium Steers 500-600 lbs:$350.00 - $450.25 Large & Medium Heifers over 800 lbs:$268.08 - $304.67 Large & Medium Heifers 600-700 lbs:$258.00 - $346.00 Large & Medium Heifers 500-600 lbs:$300.00 - $385.00 From the Beef Farmers of Ontario, the Rail Grade Report. Prices are on carcass weight basis, before grade and weight discounts. Steers: $392.00 - $392.00 Heifers: $391.00 - $391.00 *From Ontario Pork: *Quebec's average price on Thursday was $215.66 per ckg D.W. 100 index. *The previous markets day's CME Constructed (201) price was $87.04 U.S. per cwt. D.W. *Compared to the previous day this was up $0.19 *Average weekly price /ckg DW total value $254.66 *Total volume of Ont. hogs sold was 88360 * From the Beef Farmers of Ontario, the weekly beef commentary: Comments for the week ending September 14, 2023: 298 fed steers and heifers sold through auction markets this week, up 94 head from the previous week but 15 fewer than the same time last year. Fed steers ranged from $218.39-$239.53 cwt, averaging $230.30, up $0.42 from the previous week and $48.99 higher than year ago prices. Fed heifers ranged from $218.58-$238.12, averaging $230.09, up $1.85 cwt from the week before and $53.20 stronger than year ago prices. Auction markets reported trade as active with prices steady to fully steady with the market ending the week at prices $1.00-$2.00 cwt higher. The Ontario railgrade market broke out of the sideways trend that has lasted over seven weeks with light to moderate trade developing this week at prices $3.00 cwt higher. Steers were reported as trading at $392.00 cwt dressed with heifers reported at $391.00. Delivery of the cattle sold this week was being scheduled for one to two weeks out, mainly the week of September 25th. This weeks average prices are up $88.00 cwt over last year at this time. The estimated breakeven for this week, yearling steer 900 lbs placed in March 2023, is $388.00 cwt while cattle placed this week are looking at an estimated breakeven of $425.00 cwt for March 2024 marketing. There were 2,262 cull/fed cows sold through auction markets this week up 625 head from the previous week and 424 more than the same week last year. Cows sold from $109.87-$154.76 with a weekly weighted average price of $129.50 up $0.31 cwt from the previous week and $29.37 above year ago prices. Auction markets reported trade as active with good demand. Prices were reported as steady to stronger with one market noting slightly easier prices. As the week progressed trade was steady to fully steady. In the mix this week there were 440 beef cows sold up 276 head from last week averaging $139.61 cwt down $9.28 cwt on average from last weeks weighted average beef cow price. Larger volumes of stocker and feeder cattle sold through auction markets this week at 4,657 head, up 1,772 from the previous week and 849 more than this time last year. Special fall stocker sales have started and volumes should start to increase week over week. Auction markets reported trade as active with prices strong to stronger to start. As the week progressed trade was reported as steady on all weights and classes with the week ending on excellent demand at steady and strong prices. Actual average prices this week saw steers from 400-500 lbs up $3.35 from the previous week on average, 500-600 lbs were up $10.31, 600-700 lbs up $4.61, 700-800 lbs up $4.31, 800-900 lbs up $4.60, 900-1000 lbs up $4.32 while steers 1000 lbs plus averaged $2.08 easier than last weeks weighted average prices. Heifers from 300-400 lbs were up $7.72 cwt on average, 400-500 lbs up $11.77, 500-600 lbs up $4.87, 600-700 lbs up $8.27, 700-800 lbs down $3.86, 800-900 lbs up $24.50 and heifers 900 lbs and over averaged $5.56 cwt stronger than last week on average. The Quebec electronic market this week ranged from $391.25-$392.75 cwt dressed on a picked-up basis, up $3.05 cwt from the previous weeks trade. Alberta direct trade this week was light with Canfax noting sales at $390.00 cwt delivered on a dressed basis which is steady to $1.00 cwt higher than last week. Canfax reports: Cattle that traded were being scheduled for late September/early October delivery. US packer interest was noted this week, but no sales were confirmed. In Western Canada lift times have started to tighten, there has also been the odd report cash cattle are being picked up ahead of schedule. In general, it was another week of steady prices and cattle that needed to move were marketed to avoid heavy weight carcass discounts. The U.S. cash cattle trade the week ending September 8th did not turn active in the north until Thursday and held off until Friday in the south. Trade in the north ranged from $183.00-$186.00, mainly $183.00-$184.00 live with dressed deals from $286.00-$294.00, most at $290.00 cwt which is steady to $1.00 easier than the previous week's trade. Business in the south ranged from $179.00-$180.00 live, majority at $180.00 cwt which is up $1.00-$2.00 from the week before. Overall prices for the week, reported by the USDA Mandatory Price Report, saw live steers average $182.28 down $0.22 with heifers averaging $181.52 up $1.01 cwt. On the rail steers averaged $289.48 down $0.91 with heifers averaging $289.32 down $1.79. The U.S. cash cattle trade this week was limited until Friday. A few scattered deals in the north were noted from $183.00-$187.00 live and from $286.00- $290.00 dressed but not nearly enough to establish a market. Bids in the south of $179.00-$180.00 live were passed by sellers leaving the south untested. Sharply higher cattle futures on both Wednesday and Thursday encouraged sellers to raise asking prices. Today, cattle futures continue to trend stronger. Trade has developed at $183.00 live in the south up $3.00 cwt from last week. In the north a light test is noted from $184.00-$185.00 live and at $292.00 dressed which is steady to $2.00 cwt stronger than last weeks sales. Business is expected to continue this afternoon with asking prices reported as firm at $184.00 live in the south and $293.00 plus dressed in the north. Jamie Gamble, Market Information Coordinator Beef Farmers of Ontario