Fed steers and heifers sold through auction markets this week at 165 head, were down 609 head from the previous week and 256 head smaller than the same time last year. Fed steers sold from $218.54-$229.54/cwt averaging $223.91, down $7.35 cwt from the previous week’s trade and $18.27 below year ago prices. Fed heifers sold from $223.58-$241.31 averaging $233.31 cwt, down $5.30 from last week and $7.35 lower than last year. Auction markets reported fed steers and heifers sold $10.00/cwt lower last week. On Tuesday June 18th, fed steers and heifers sold on an easier market with Holstein selling steady. Fed cattle traded easier with a small offering of mostly good. Fed steers and heifers sold at barely steady prices.
In Ontario, numbers have been varying but there have been reports 50+ loads of fed cattle per week are going to Alberta for processing. As the Cargill strike showed no signs of resolution last week, carcass weights may remain heavy. For the week ending June 8th, Eastern Canadian steer carcass weights averaged 998 lbs, this matches the previous record high set back in May 2021.
Cull cow receipts sold through auction markets this week were 1,689 head, down 292 head from last week and down 406 head from last year. Cows were selling from $128.87-$171.76/cwt averaging $149.21/cwt, down $1.10/cwt from last week but up $22.12 from last year. Auction markets reported cows sold steady.
On June 18th, cows sold actively at higher prices which is $3.00-$5.00 higher. With high temperatures, too few cull cows to establish a true market. Beef cow prices sold from $145.22-$180.89/cwt averaging $164.38, up $5.79 cwt from the previous week’s trade and $16.90 above year ago prices.
Receipts of 2,527 stocker and feeder cattle sold through Ontario auction markets this week up 264 head from the previous week but 1,189 head fewer than the same week last year. Auction markets reported stockers and feeder cattle sold on a fully steady trade. On Wednesday June 19th, feeder steers sold under pressure at easier pricing while heifers selling steady. Actual average prices collected this week saw steers from 400-500 lbs trading $10.75 cwt more than last week on average, 500-600 lbs down $5.51, 600-700 lbs down $3.75, 700-800 lbs up $11.30, 800-900 lbs were up $0.77, steers 900-1000 lbs down $2.88 and steers 1000 lbs plus averaged $6.66 cwt weaker than the previous week. Heifers from 300-400 lbs were up $8.08 cwt from last week on average, 400-500 lbs down $11.10, 500-600 lbs down $2.16, 600-700 lbs up $15.90, 700-800 lbs up $7.43, 800-900 lbs up $29.41 and heifers 900 lbs and over averaged $10.52 cwt weaker than the previous week. Lighter weight feeder prices have softened over the last three weeks, while heavy weights (over 900 lbs) have remained stable. Weekly auction volumes have dropped seasonally from their spring peak, the first week of May. Auction volumes tend to make their annual lows in July and remain light into early August.
