Fed steers and heifers sold through auction markets this week at 589 head, were up 91 head from the previous week and 337 head larger than the same time last year. Fed steers averaged $270.22/cwt, up $9.14/cwt from last week and $47.14/cwt above year ago prices. Fed heifers averaged $266.51/cwt, up $1.96/cwt from last week and $47.36/cwt higher than last year. Auction markets this week fed steers and heifers sold on a strong market at higher prices. On Thursday January 16th, fed steers and heifers sold $3.00- $4.00 higher on very strong trade.
In Ontario, light trade has been reported with dressed sales marked at $445/cwt delivered, steady with last week. Cattle are being booked for the week of January 27th. For the week ending January 11th, Eastern Canadian processing was 5% below a year ago and 6% below the five-year average. YTD processing is down 9%, with steers down 11% and heifers down 4%, cows down 9% and bulls down 47%. For the week ending January 4th, Eastern fed cattle and cow exports to the US were 1,963 head, 20% above last year and 45% above the five-year average.
Cull cow receipts sold through auction markets this week were 2,848 head, down 249 head from last week but up 702 head from last year. Cows averaged $152.26/cwt, up $3.33/cwt from last week and up $32.33/cwt from last year. Beef cow prices averaged $157.15/cwt, down $0.05/cwt from the previous week’s trade but $29.36/cwt above year ago prices. Auction markets reported this week cows sold a stronger with prices $5.00-$7.00 higher. Cull cows sold strong and steady.
Receipts of 4,740 stocker and feeder cattle sold through Ontario auction markets this week, up 2,565 head from the previous week and 1,139 head more than the same week last year. Auction markets reported last week stockers continued to sell stronger. All classes of stockers traded actively on a steady to slightly stronger market. This week, feeder cattle sold with strong buyer demand at sharply higher prices while stockers sold with excellent buyer demand on a stronger market. Actual average prices collected this week saw steers from 400-500 lbs trading $27.17/cwt higher than last week on average, 500-600 lbs up $25.94/cwt, 600-700 lbs up $20.41/cwt, 700-800 lbs up $5.60/cwt, 800-900 lbs were up $6.59/cwt, steers 900-1000 lbs up $12.15/cwt and steers 1000 lbs plus averaged $2.83/cwt weaker than the previous week’s weighted average prices. Heifers from 300-400 lbs were up $58.36/cwt from last week on average, 400-500 lbs up $40.38/cwt, 500-600 lbs up $35.10/cwt, 600-700 lbs up $10.35/cwt, 700-800 lbs down $3.70/cwt, 800-900 lbs up $22.20/cwt and heifers 900 lbs and over averaged $23.01/cwt stronger than the previous week’s weighted average prices. For the week ending January 4th, Eastern feeder exports to the US were 706 head, 28% lower than last year and 154% above the five-year average.
