Special spring stocker sales helped boost the number of replacement cattle on offer in Ontario last week.
Beef Farmers of Ontario reports just over 51 hundred replacements sold, up more than 17 hundred from the previous week and 951 more than a year ago.
Calves sold fully steady with top quality and grass weights bringing premiums.
575 fed steers and heifers were sold in the province last week - up just over 60 from the previous week and 15 more than a year ago.
Fed steers averaged 195.45 - up 4.56 from the previous week and over 48 dollars stronger than last year.
Fed heifers averaged 190.33, up just over 5 dollars on the week, over 48 dollars higher than last year.
Ontario rail grade prices were over 3 dollars higher on the week, over 71 dollars higher on the year.
And last week was the first week out of the last six that the average price for cull cows didn't increase.
At 125.51, the price was down about 50 cents from the previous week and almost 40 dollars stronger than last year.
BFO says the just over 21 hundred cull cows on market last week were up over 380 from the previous week but about 390 fewer than the same week in 2014.
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Weekly Cattle Comments - As Supplied by Beef Farmers of Ontario Ph: Toll free: 1-866-370-2333 or (519) 824-0334 Fax: (519) 824-9161 Email: markets@ontariobeef.com Comments for the week ending March 12, 2015 There were 575 fed steers and heifers sold through Ontario auction markets this week up 63 head from last week and 15 more than the same time last year. Fed steers ranged from $187.48-$199.95 averaging $195.48 up $4.56 from last week on average and $48.10 stronger than this time last year. Heifers sold from $180.12-$198.81 averaging $190.33 up $5.10 from last week and $48.47 stronger than year ago prices. Auction markets reported a good active trade. Prices improved as the week progressed as the week started out firm and ended the week at least $3.00-$4.00 cwt higher.
Ontario rail grade prices also improved as the week progressed with steers starting out at $314.00-$317.00 dressed, up to $316.00-$317.00 by Monday and $318.00-$320.00 by Wednesday. That is a $3.75 increase over last week on average and up $71.75 from last year at this time. Heifers started out the week at $313.00-$316.00 dressed, to $315.00-$316.00 on Monday and $317.00 on Wednesday. That is a week over week average increase of $3.50 and $71.25 increase from last year at this time.
A few more cull cows came to market this week with the more seasonal weather, however volumes are still lower than last year at this time. 2,138 cull cows sold through auction markets up 386 from last week but 395 less than the same time last year. Cull cows traded from $105.09-$144.67 averaging $125.51 down $0.49 from last week and $39.31 stronger than year ago prices. This is the first week out of the last six that the average price did not increase. Majority of auction markets report a very strong demand with prices fully steady. There were two reports of prices up $3.00-$5.00 from the previous week.
Larger receipts of 5,116 replacement cattle were on offer at Ontario auction markets this week with special spring stocker sales starting to take place. This week's volume was up 1,788 head from last week (with 2 special sales included) and 951 more than last year at this time. Auction markets reported a good strong active trade with calves selling fully steady, with top quality and grass weights bringing premiums, and one report of prices up $5.00-$8.00. Heavier cattle sold steady to strong with medium quality reported as under some pressure in spots. Actual average prices this week saw steers 400-500 lbs up $13.44 from last week on average, steers 500-600 lbs up $13.87, 600-700 lbs up $15.32, 700-800 lbs up $9.18, 800-900 lbs up $6.25, 900-1000 lbs up $4.21 and steers over 1000 lbs averaged $0.31 stronger than last week on average. Heifers 300-400 lbs were up $0.21 on average from last week, heifers 400-500 lbs up $19.09, 500-600 lbs up $2.21, 600-700 lbs up $8.53, 700-800 lbs up $17.13, 800-900 lbs up $9.94 and heifers over 900 lbs averaged $0.18 stronger than last week on average.
The Quebec Electronic Market this week was reported at $319.50 dressed, up $6.13 from last week on average.
Alberta direct trade was very light this week as Canfax reported: "dressed bids and sales anywhere from 4.00-9.00 higher than the previous week. Light volumes of western Canadian fed cattle have traded South with prices at a premium over local deals. There have been some cattle passed or pulled off this week's list as producers are indicating cattle can use the extra days on feed." Trade was too light to publish a fed cattle price report.
The US cash cattle trade the week ending March 6th developed late Friday afternoon again this week with light volumes and live prices averaging $2.50 stronger while prices on the rail were up $3.60-$3.80 on average. The USDA Mandatory Price Report noted live sales from $158.00-$163.00 with steers averaging $161.07 up from $158.44 the previous week while heifers averaged $160.92 up from $158.35. Dressed deals ranged from $252.00-$259.00 with steers averaging $257.17 up from $253.56 the previous week while heifers averaged $257.17 up from $253.48. this week a very light test was reported in parts of the north on Thursday with sales steady to $2.00 higher from $258.00-$260.00 dressed. Today, bids are sitting at $160.00-$162.00 live and $256.00-$260.00 dressed with no sales reported. It looks like another round of late Friday afternoon trade as sellers hold out for asking prices of $163.00 live and $263.00 dressed.
Jamie Gamble, Market Information Coordinator, Beef Farmers of Ontario.
