Fed steers and heifers sold through auction markets this week at 445 head, were up 124 head from the previous week and 119 head larger than the same time last year. Fed steers averaged $249.16/cwt, down $3.09/cwt from the previous week’s trade but $31.82/cwt above year ago prices. Fed heifers averaged $253.85/cwt, up $5.65/cwt from last week and $32.56/cwt higher than last year. Auction markets reported on Tuesday December 10th, fed steers and heifers sold on a steady market. On December 12th, fed steers and heifers sold actively at prices $3.00-$4.00 higher. December is historically a strong month for fed cattle.
Over the past two months, the Ontario cash-to-futures basis has averaged -$15/cwt. In Ontario, light trade has been reported from $420-425/cwt delivered, steady to $5/cwt higher. Cattle were being booked for the week of December 16th delivery. For the week ending December 7th, Eastern Canadian processing was 3.8% below the year ago and 5.2% below the five-year average. YTD processing is down 11%, with steers down 9% and heifers down 6%, cows down 24% and bulls down 38%. For the week ending November 30th, Eastern fed cattle and cow exports to the US were 3,441 head, 7% lower than last year and 30% above the five-year average. YTD exports are up 24% from last year.
Cull cow receipts sold through auction markets this week were 2,810 head, up 233 head from last week but down 387 head from last year. Cows averaged $134.75/cwt up $1.71/cwt from last week and up $29.31/cwt from last year. Beef cows averaged $140.07/cwt, down $0.79/cwt from the previous week’s trade but $26.29/cwt above year ago prices. Auction markets reported earlier this week that cows sold actively at steady prices with good quality cows selling stronger. On December 11th, cows traded steady to $3.00 stronger.
Receipts of 5,275 stocker and feeder cattle sold through Ontario auction markets this week up 780 head from the previous week but 18 head less than the same week last year. The feeder market remains on fire.
Steer prices were up $6/cwt on average compared to last week with heifers up $7/cwt. Auction markets reported last week stockers sold actively at steady prices. On December 10th, all classes of stocker and feeder cattle sold $3.00-$5.00 higher. On December 12th, feeders sold actively at steady prices. Actual average prices collected this week saw steers from 400-500 lbs trading $5.66/cwt higher than last week on average, 500-600 lbs down $0.63/cwt, 600-700 lbs up $13.41/cwt, 700-800 lbs up $16.11/cwt, 800-900 lbs were down $5.57/cwt, steers 900-1000 lbs up $6.21/cwt and steers 1000 lbs plus averaged $6.00/cwt stronger than the previous week’s weighted average prices. Heifers from 300-400 lbs were down $1.64/cwt from last week on average, 400-500 lbs up $9.76/cwt, 500-600 lbs down $13.96/cwt, 600-700 lbs up $32.86/cwt, 700-800 lbs up $6.84/cwt, 800-900 lbs up $5.18/cwt and heifers 900 lbs and over averaged $11.97/cwt stronger than the previous week’s weighted average prices. For the week ending November 30th, Eastern Canadian feeder exports to the US were 925 head, 9% lower than last year and 51% above the five-year average. YTD feeder exports are up 9% from last year.
