Fed steers and heifers sold through auction markets this week at 541 head, were up 157 head from the previous week and 352 head larger than the same time last year. Fed steers sold from $242.46-$267.15/cwt averaging $257.53, up $6.50 cwt from the previous week’s trade and $26.61 above year ago prices. Fed heifers sold from $238.61-$261.50/cwt averaging $250.62 cwt, down $1.09 from last week but $24.73 higher than last year. Auction markets reported after holiday Monday, fed steers and heifers sold actively at prices $3.00-$5.00/cwt higher on August 6th.
In Ontario, steady to stronger dressed sales this week were reported at $420.00-425.00/cwt with delivery the week of August 19th-26th. For the week ending July 27th, Eastern Canada cattle processing at 12,432 head was up 5% from the same week last year with steers up 7% and heifers up 37%; while cows were down 29% and bulls down 50% from the same week last year. Year to date cattle processing remains 17% below year ago levels.
Cull cow receipts sold through auction markets this week were 1,285 head, down 242 head from last week and down 890 head from last year. Cows were selling from $132.52-$196.76/cwt averaging $165.24/cwt, up $2.07/cwt from last week and up $42.95 from last year. Auction markets reported cows sold actively at steady prices after holiday Monday. On Wednesday August 7th, cows and bulls sold on a stronger market.
Beef cow prices sold from $154.58-$206.65/cwt averaging $182.55, up $1.66 cwt from the previous week’s trade and $42.59 above year ago prices.
Receipts of 1,836 stocker and feeder cattle sold through Ontario auction markets this week down 793 head from the previous week and 114 head lower than the same week last year. Auction markets reported last week stockers sold quite active at firm to higher prices. On August 7th, feeder cattle sold steady. On Thursday August 8th, all classes of stockers sold higher with huge demand. Actual average prices collected this week saw steers from 400-500 lbs trading $16.63 cwt higher than last week on average, 500-600 lbs up $12.69, 600-700 lbs up $27.04, 700-800 lbs up $22.23, 800-900 lbs were down $0.04, steers 900-1000 lbs down $2.92 and steers 1000 lbs plus averaged $4.70 cwt weaker than the previous week’s weighted average prices. Heifers from 300-400 lbs were up $2.66 cwt from last week on average, 400-500 lbs down $37.70, 500-600 lbs up $27.29, 600-700 lbs up $3.48, 700-800 lbs up $17.53, 800-900 lbs down $8.81, and heifers 900 lbs and over averaged $10.74 cwt stronger than the previous week’s weighted average prices.
The Quebec electronic market this week sold at $413.00-$413.50cwt dressed on a picked-up basis, which is up $0.62 from the previous week’s trade on average.
Alberta fed trade last week saw fed cattle prices have averaged in the mid to upper $250’s/cwt for the past six weeks. The summer market has been rather impressive as prices are only $9/cwt shy of their highs set back in early June. According to Canfax report on Aug 2nd, “Just to highlight how strong the fed market has been, for the first seven months of this year, Western Canadian fed beef production is steady with a year ago while YTD fed cattle prices are 11% higher than last year. Producers are getting more dollars in their pockets for the same amount of beef being produced which is a positive story. This also drives home how strong beef demand (domestic and international) has been for Canadian beef.” On Aug 7th, light trade developed with dressed sales and bids reported from $426-428/cwt delivered, $2-4/cwt lower than last week. Despite lower prices, Alberta fed cash-to-futures basis levels have strengthened going from +$0.17/cwt last week to an estimated +$4.50/cwt this week.
