Fed steers and heifers sold through auction markets this week at 185 head, were down 52 head from the previous week and 155 head smaller than the same time last year. Fed steers sold from $ 229.28-$244.06/cwt averaging $237.79/cwt, down $3.24/cwt from the previous week’s trade but $5.10/cwt aboveyear ago prices. Fed heifers sold from $211.55-$249.47/cwt averaging $235.02/cwt, up $5.00/cwt from last week and $0.03/cwt higher than last year. Auction markets reported on Tuesday September 24th, fed steers and heifers sold barely steady. On September 25th, fed cattle sold $2.00-$4.00 easier. Steers tradedslightly off this week while a good quality run of heifers traded higher.
In Ontario, dressed sales have been reported at $406/cwt delivered, steady with previous week. Cattle are being booked for early October delivery. Ontario fed prices held steady at $242.70/cwt. The Ontario cashto-futures basis was reported at $0.91/cwt, softening by $1.87/cwt. Eastern Canadian processing is down 14% YTD with both steers and heifers down 11%, cows down 25% and bulls down 38%. For week ending September 21st, processing was 2% below year ago levels and 4.6% below the five-year average with a larger number of heifers coming to market. For the week ending September 7th, Eastern fed cattle and cow exports to the US were 3,018 head, 16% above last year and 66% above the five-year average. YTD exports are up 35% from last year.
Cull cow receipts sold through auction markets this week were 1,695 head, up 262 head from last week but down 460 head from last year. Cows were selling from $124.12-$176.15/cwt averaging $147.56/cwt, down $4.21/cwt from last week and up $20.67/cwt from last year. Beef cow prices sold from $128.01-$188.95/cwt averaging $158.31/cwt, down $2.94/cwt from the previous week’s trade but $21.26/cwt above year ago prices. Auction markets reported on September 24th, cows and bulls sold steady.
Receipts of 4,529 stocker and feeder cattle sold through Ontario auction markets this week down 685 head from the previous week and 1443 head fewer than the same week last year. Auction markets reported last week stockers continued to sell actively at strong prices. On September 25th, feeder cattle sold on a steady trade. On Thursday September 25th, stockers sold selectively with top quality cattle selling steady and medium quality cattle at barely steady prices. Actual average prices collected this week saw steers from 400-500 lbs trading $4.70/cwt higher than last week on average, 500-600 lbs down $6.20/cwt, 600-700 lbs down $5.25/cwt, 700-800 lbs down $18.07/cwt, 800-900 lbs were up $1.71/cwt, steers 900-1000 lbs down $4.33/cwt and steers 1000 lbs plus averaged $1.06/cwt weaker than the previous week’s weighted average prices. Heifers from 300-400 lbs were down $36.96/cwt from last week on average, 400-500 lbs down $25.87/cwt, 500-600 lbs down $28.22/cwt, 600-700 lbs down $31.83/cwt, 700-800 lbs up $5.06/cwt, 800-900 lbs up $10.86/cwt and heifers 900 lbs and over averaged $1.63/cwt stronger than the previous week’s weighted average prices.
