ONT Farm Market News PM Livestock Summary for May 12 Here is the Country Auction Report as collected by the Beef Farmers of Ontario Friday. * REPLACEMENT CATTLE: There were 1,000 head on offer at Brussels. Calves and yearlings sold on a strong, active trade at higher prices, with grass-types bringing premium prices. Large & Medium Steers over 900 lbs:$236.05 - $280.42 Large & Medium Steers 700-800 lbs:$264.00 - $324.00 Large & Medium Steers 500-600 lbs:$200.00 - $345.00 Large & Medium Heifers over 800 lbs:$227.41 - $267.39 Large & Medium Heifers 600-700 lbs:$240.00 - $317.00 Large & Medium Heifers 500-600 lbs:$268.00 - $321.00 From the Beef Farmers of Ontario, the Rail Grade Report. Prices are on carcass weight basis, before grade and weight discounts. Steers: $375.00 - $375.00 Heifers: N/A - N/A *From Ontario Pork: *Quebec's average price on Thursday was $172.06 per ckg D.W. 100 index. *The previous markets day's CME Constructed (201) price was $75.68 U.S. per cwt. D.W. *Compared to the previous day this was up $0.54 *Average weekly price /ckg DW total value $213.41 *Total volume of Ont. hogs sold was 107944 * From the Beef Farmers of Ontario, the weekly beef commentary: Comments for the week ending May 11, 2023: There were 596 fed steers and heifers sold through auction markets this week, up 21 head from the previous week and 365 more than the same time last year. Fed steers ranged from $216.54-$230.12, averaging $224.80 down $0.21 from last week but $45.93 stronger than year ago prices. Fed heifers sold from $215.94-$228.32, averaging $222.92 up $0.51 from the prior week and $49.96 above this time last year. Auction markets reported trade as active on good demand with prices steady and strong. The Ontario railgrade market was limited in volume this week, with just a few deals reported at steady prices of $375.00 dressed for steers and $374.00 for heifers with delivery the week of May 29th. Limited selling interest in the steady bids was reported as sellers look for higher prices. US packer interest in Ontario fed cattle continues. This weeks average prices are up $75.00 cwt over the same time last year. Lighter receipts of 1,714 fed/cull cows sold through auction markets this week down 366 head from the previous week but 155 more than the same time last year. Cows ranged from $101.69-$139.62 averaging $118.27 up $3.12 cwt from the week before and $19.53 stronger than year ago prices. Auction markets reported trade as steady with one market noting beef cows considerably higher. By mid-week trade was reported as $5.00-$7.00 cwt higher but ended the week trading steady. There were 501 head of beef cows sold through auction market this week down 23 head from the previous week, averaging $124.45 down $2.45 cwt from last weeks weighted average beef cow price. Exports of cattle for processing, including fed steers and heifers, cows and bulls through Ontario ports to the U.S. are sitting at 44,960 head as of April 24, 2023. This volume is up 40.4% over the same time in 2022 but down 5.5% from the same time in 2021. The largest increase in volume this year is noted in the fed steers which are sharply higher than last year and the year before. Fed heifer volumes are approximately double last years numbers at this time and also higher than in 2021. The cull cow volumes are slightly higher than last year at this time but considerably lower than 2021 export numbers. Lighter receipts of stocker and feeder cattle sold through auction markets this week at 6,387 head, down 2,341 from the week before and 329 fewer than the same week last year. Auction markets reported calves as steady to stronger and $5.00-$10.00 cwt higher. Yearlings/heavier cattle sold steady to fully steady across the board but by mid-week trade was barely steady. Actual average prices this week saw steers 400-500 lbs up $26.75, 500-600 lbs up $1.00, 600-700 lbs up $14.09, 700-800 lbs down $11.57, 800-900 lbs up $0.18, 900-1000 lbs up $5.18 and steers 1000 lbs plus averaged $5.64 easier than last week on average. Heifers from 300-400 lbs were down $5.24 cwt, 400-500 lbs down $19.21, 500-600 lbs down $14.00, 600-700 lbs down $5.12, 700-800 lbs down $1.49, 800-900 lbs down $6.29 while heifers 900 lbs and over averaged $4.90 cwt higher than last weeks weighted average price. The Quebec electronic market this week ranged from $370.00-$374.50 cwt dressed on a picked-up basis, down $2.00 cwt from last week on average. Alberta direct trade this week ranged from $385.00-$390.00 cwt delivered on a dressed basis, majority trading at $390.00 with prices averaging steady to last week. Canfax reports: Competition on this weeks cash market has been good with all three western Canadian packers buying cattle. With steady to higher cash prices and stronger basis levels producers are motivated sellers, digging deep into their calf pens to find cattle. Most of the cattle that traded were being scheduled for 1-2 week delivery while there were a couple lots of cattle that wont be picked up until June. On Thursday afternoon western packers were still calling around looking to buy more cattle. The U.S. cash cattle trade the week ending May 5th continued to trade easier. Business in the south ranged from $170.00-$174.00 live, mainly $172.00 down $1.00 cwt. Business in the north was down $2.00-$3.00 on a live basis from $176.00-$180.00, mainly $176.00-$177.00 with dressed trade from $275.00-$285.00 with most from $280.00-$281.00 cwt. Overall average prices for the week reported by the USDA Mandatory Price Report saw live steers average $173.93 down $3.22 cwt and live heifers $173.84 down $3.54. On the rail steers averaged $280.94 down $3.11 cwt with heifers averaging $280.92 down $3.25. This week the U.S. cash cattle trade was very limited early week with just a couple of deals noted in Iowa at $176.00-$177.00 live, steady while a few dressed deals were reported at $277.00 dressed but not enough to establish a market. On Wednesday afternoon a light trade in the south reported sales from $167.00-$170.00 cwt live, mainly $170.00 down $2.00 cwt. In the north a light test was noted from $176.00-$177.00 live and $268.00-$278.00 dressed, mainly $277.00-$278.00 down $2.00-$3.00 cwt from last week but not enough sold to establish a market. Thursday, light to moderate trade in the north was reported from $172.00-$178.00 live, most at $176.00-$177.00 which is steady to last weeks northern trade, with dressed deals from $277.00-$280.00 cwt , mostly $279.00-$280.00 down $1.00-$2.00 from last weeks trade. At time of reporting the market is quiet however some clean up trade is possible today with asking prices on the remaining cattle at $172.00 live in the south and $282.00 dressed in the north. Jamie Gamble - Beef Farmers of Ontarios market information report.