Fed steers and heifers sold through auction markets this week at 303 head, were down 177 head from the previous week and 11 head smaller than the same time last year. Fed steers averaged $277.81/cwt, down $0.23/cwt from last week but $45.97/cwt above year ago prices. Fed heifers averaged $279.00/cwt, up $5.67/cwt from last week and $49.20/cwt higher than last year. Auction markets reported this week that a light run of fed cattle traded stronger and $5.00-$10.00/cwt higher
Light trade has been reported in Ontario with dressed sales marked at $480/cwt, $10/cwt stronger than last week. Cattle are being booked for the week of February 17th and 24th delivery. For the week ending February 1st, Eastern Canadian processing was 2.4% below a year ago and 6.8% below the five-year average. YTD processing is down 4%, with steers down 3% and heifers down 8%, cows down 2% and bulls down 46%. For the week ending January 25th, Eastern fed cattle and cow exports to the US were 5,182 head, 95% above last year and 70% above the five-year average.
Cull cow receipts sold through auction markets this week were 2,148 head, down 166 head from last week but up 201 head from last year. Cows averaged $155.78/cwt, down $5.85/cwt from last week and up $36.12/cwt from last year. Beef cow prices averaged $163.53/cwt, down $5.41/cwt from the previous week’s trade and $37.77/cwt above year ago prices. Auction markets reported this week that cull cows sold less to barely steady. Over the February 1-2 weekend, due to the threat of American tariffs, cows sold at slightly easier prices.
Receipts of 2,847 stocker and feeder cattle sold through Ontario auction markets this week, down 1,642 head from the previous week and 284 head less than the same week last year. Auction markets reported last week stockers sold $5.00-$7.00 higher on an excellent demand. This week stockers continue to sell strong and feeder cattle sold at barely steady prices. Actual average prices collected this week saw steers from 400-500 lbs trading $30.48/cwt lower than last week on average, 500-600 lbs down $9.94/cwt, 600-700 lbs up $1.22/cwt, 700-800 lbs down $2.26/cwt, 800-900 lbs were up $18.44/cwt, steers 900-1000 lbs down $5.68/cwt and steers 1000 lbs plus averaged $4.83/cwt stronger than the previous week’s weighted average prices. Heifers from 300-400 lbs were down $20.68/cwt from last week on average, 400-500 lbs down $24.35/cwt, 500-600 lbs down $18.24/cwt, 600-700 lbs down $20.72/cwt, 700-800 lbs down $2.48/cwt, 800-900 lbs up $23.26/cwt and heifers 900 lbs and over averaged $13.28/cwt stronger than the previous week’s weighted average prices. For the week ending January 25th, Eastern feeder exports to the US were 839 head, 7% lower than last year and 32% above the five-year average.
