Fed steers and heifers sold through auction markets this week at 321 head, were up 49 head from the previous week but 19 head smaller than the same time last year. Fed steers averaged $252.25/cwt, up $20.66/cwt from the previous week’s trade and $29.50/cwt above year ago prices. Fed heifers averaged $248.20/cwt, up $14.45/cwt from last week and $27.72/cwt higher than last year. Auction markets reported on December 3rd, fed steers and heifers sold on a steady market. On December 5th, fed steers and heifers sold at prices $3.00-$4.00 higher.
In Ontario, dressed sales have been reported at $416/cwt delivered, $5/cwt higher than the previous week. Cattle that traded were being booked for the week of December 9th and 16th delivery. For the week ending November 30th, Eastern Canadian processing was 0.3% above the year ago and 3.9% below the five-year average. YTD processing is down 11%, with steers down 9% and heifers down 7%, cows down 24% and bulls down 38%. For the week ending November 23rd, Eastern fed cattle and cow exports to the US were 4,300 head, 34% higher than last year and 68% above the five-year average. YTD exports are up 25% from last year.
Cull cow receipts sold through auction markets this week were 2,577 head, up 133 head from last week but down 406 head from last year. Cows averaged $133.04/cwt up $0.47/cwt from last week and up $22.00/cwt from last year. Beef cows averaged $140.86/cwt, up $0.19/cwt from the previous week’s trade and $18.66/cwt above year ago prices. Auction markets reported this week cows and bulls sold steady.
Receipts of 4,495 stocker and feeder cattle sold through Ontario auction markets this week down 3,212 head from the previous week and 599 head less than the same week last year. Auction markets reported last week that stockers sold fully steady. This week, feeder cattle continue to sell actively at stronger prices and stockers sold actively at steady to higher prices with good buyer demand. Actual average prices collected this week saw steers from 400-500 lbs trading $10.79/cwt higher than last week on average, 500-600 lbs up $5.85/cwt, 600-700 lbs up $2.90/cwt, 700-800 lbs up $4.33/cwt, 800-900 lbs were up $2.89/cwt, steers 900-1000 lbs up $13.30/cwt and steers 1000 lbs plus averaged $7.96/cwt weaker than the previous week’s weighted average prices. Heifers from 300-400 lbs were up $6.71/cwt from last week on average, 400-500 lbs down $6.84/cwt, 500-600 lbs up $8.48/cwt, 600-700 lbs down $9.02/cwt, 700-800 lbs down $2.99/cwt, 800-900 lbs down $0.30/cwt and heifers 900 lbs and over averaged $5.67/cwt weaker than the previous week’s weighted average prices. For the week ending November 23rd, Eastern Canadian feeder exports to the US were 1,453 head, 65% higher than last year and 162% above the five-year average. YTD feeder exports are up 9% from last year.
