ONT Farm Market News PM Livestock Summary for March 24 Here is the Country Auction Report as collected by the Beef Farmers of Ontario Friday. * REPLACEMENT CATTLE: There were 1,300 head on offer at Brussels. Calves sold actively at steady prices, with quality considered. Yearlings had not started to trade at time of reporting. Large & Medium Steers over 900 lbs:$223.69 - $245.57 Large & Medium Steers 700-800 lbs:$213.00 - $291.00 Large & Medium Steers 500-600 lbs:$250.00 - $313.00 Large & Medium Heifers over 800 lbs:$195.08 - $231.74 Large & Medium Heifers 600-700 lbs:$210.00 - $268.00 Large & Medium Heifers 500-600 lbs:$219.00 - $279.00 From the Beef Farmers of Ontario, the Rail Grade Report. Prices are on carcass weight basis, before grade and weight discounts. Steers: $360.00 - $360.00 Heifers: $359.00 - $359.00 *From Ontario Pork: *Quebec's average price on Thursday was $194.75 per ckg D.W. 100 index. *The previous markets day's CME Constructed (201) price was $77.29 U.S. per cwt. D.W. *Compared to the previous day this was down $0.21 *Average weekly price /ckg DW total value $231.12 *Total volume of Ont. hogs sold was 112540 * From the Beef Farmers of Ontario, the weekly beef commentary: Comments for the week ending March 23, 2023: Slightly lighter receipts of fed steers and heifers sold through auction markets this week at 407 head, down 22 from the previous week and 78 fewer than the same week last year. Fed steers sold from $201.39-$216.19 averaging $209.54 up $1.92 cwt from last week and $37.46 stronger than year ago prices. Fed heifers traded from $199.38-$216.14 averaging $208.53 up $1.07 from the week before and $38.37 higher than this time last year. Auction markets reported trade as fully steady to $2.00-$3.00 cwt higher for the most part with one market noting medium quality offering trading steady. The Ontario railgrade market was very limited Friday to Monday with a few deals noted at $355.00 dressed for steers but sellers were holding out for better prices. By Tuesday a couple of deals were reported at $357.00 dressed for steers but again, sellers were not eager to trade at this price. By Wednesday prices had improved to $360.00 cwt dressed for steers and $359.00 for heifers, up $6.00 cwt from last weeks average prices, with delivery noted for this week and next. U.S. packer interest continued this week in Ontario. As of March 18, 2023, federally inspected processing volumes in Ontario total 124,541 head, down 7.6% from the same time in 2022 and 6.6% below the same time in 2021. In the mix the total steers processed as of March 18, 2023 is at 82,160 head, down 5% from 2022 and 5.6% below the same time in 2021. Heifer processing volumes as of March 18, 2023 are at 19,875 head, down 19.7% from 2022 and 28.7% lower than the same time in 2021. Cull cow processing volumes as of March 18, 2023 are at 22,347 head down 5.4% from 2022 but 29.6% above March 18, 2021. Weekly volumes have only been above 12,000 head once this year, which was the last week in January. As of March 18, 2023, 6.8% of the cattle processed graded prime which is up 0.1% over last year at this time. Cattle grading AAA are 69.7% of the total volume which is identical to this time last year. Cattle grading AA this year make up 21.3% of the volume down 0.4% from last year, with 0.4% of the cattle processed so far this year grading A down 0.3% from the same time last year. As of March 11, 2023, fed cattle exports (including fed steers, heifers & cows) to the U.S. through Ontario ports total 26,447 head up 26.6% from the same time in 2022 but 14.4% lower than March 11, 2021. The largest weekly increases this year over last are noted in February and into March. 2,177 fed/cull cows sold through auction markets this week down 183 head from last week and 88 fewer than this time last year. Cows ranged from $94.77-$132.72 cwt, averaging $111.83 up $0.62 from the previous week and $17.53 higher than year ago prices. Auction markets reported trade as fully steady to $3.00-$5.00 cwt higher to start the week. By mid-week the market was fully steady and ended the week actively at higher prices. This week saw 321 beef cows sell through auction markets down 77 head from last week, averaging $116.49 cwt down $1.41 from the previous weeks weighted average beef cow price. A light offering of stocker and feeder cattle sold through auction markets this week at 4,179 head, down 1,147 from the previous week and 364 fewer than the same week last year. Auction markets reported trade as active on good demand with prices holding steady on lighter runs for most of the week. But by weeks end plain calves were under pressure, good calves steady and dairy cross calves steady to stronger with heavier cattle reported as firm. Actual average prices this week saw steers 400-500 lbs down $19.42 cwt from the previous week, 500-600 lbs down $31.39, 600-700 lbs down $19.16, 700-800 lbs down $8.80, 800-900 lbs down $16.98, 900-1000 lbs down $9.70 and steers 1000 lbs plus averaged $5.78 easier than last weeks weighted average prices. Heifers from 400-500 lbs were down $14.91 from last week, 500-600 lbs down $26.01, 600-700 lbs down $13.23, 700-800 lbs down $17.80, 800-900 lbs down $11.97 and heifers 900 lbs plus averaged $6.68 lower than last weeks weighted average prices. The Quebec electronic market this week averaged $358.13 cwt dressed on a picked-up basis, up $3.13 cwt from the previous weeks average price. Alberta direct trade on Wednesday was reported by Canfax as $2.50-$5.00 cwt higher than the previous week from $350.50-$353.00 cwt delivered on a dressed basis. Thursday the market surged higher with deals reported from $353.00-$357.00 delivered up $5.00-$7.00 cwt. The U.S. cash cattle trade the week ending March 16th was light to moderate in volume with business in the south ranging from $163.00-$165.00 live, mainly $164.00 cwt down $1.00. In the north a few deals were noted on a live basis from $164.00-$166.00, most at $164.00 with dressed trade from $260.00-$265.00 cwt. Overall average prices for the week saw live steers averaging $164.17 down $1.23 from the previous week while live heifers averaged $164.07 down $0.98. On the rail steers averaged $263.82 down $1.50 while heifers averaged $263.87 down $2.43 from the previous weeks weighted average prices. This week the U.S. cash cattle trade was fairly quiet until Wednesday with prices stronger in the north and lower in the south. Trade in the south was reported at mainly $163.00 live down $1.00 cwt. In the north live deals ranged from $164.00-$168.00 cwt, mainly $165.00 which is $1.00 higher, with dressed deals from $265.00-$268.00, mainly $265.00 up $1.00 cwt. Today the market is quiet and it appears that business for the week is completed. Jamie Gamble - Beef Farmers of Ontarios market information report.