Fed steers and heifers sold through auction markets this week at 379 head, were down 176 head from the previous week and 14 head smaller than the same time last year. Fed steers averaged $277.01/cwt, up $2.15/cwt from last week and $37.70/cwt above year ago prices. Fed heifers averaged $275.33/cwt, up $2.99/cwt from last week and $41.36/cwt higher than last year. Auction markets reported this week that fed steers and heifers sold $2.00-$3.00/cwt softer.
In Ontario, no bids or cash sales have been reported. Fed prices continue to hover near record highs. The Ontario-cash-to-futures basis moved above the four-year average in February. For the week ending February 15th, Eastern Canadian processing was 2% below a year ago and 13% below the five-year average.
YTD processing is down 5%, with steers down 5% and heifers down 2%, cows down 5% and bulls down 39%. For the week ending February 8th, Eastern fed cattle and cow exports to the US were 4,406 head, 55% above last year and 52% above the five-year average. YTD Eastern fed cattle and cow exports are up 56% from last year.
Cull cow receipts sold through auction markets this week were 1,780 head, down 368 head from last week but up 109 head from last year. Cows averaged $160.68/cwt, up $5.88/cwt from last week and up $33.67/cwt from last year. Beef cow prices averaged $177.59/cwt, up $18.02/cwt from the previous week’s trade and $40.62/cwt above year ago prices. Auction markets reported this week that cows and bulls traded in a much stronger market.
Smaller receipts of 1,775 stocker and feeder cattle sold through Ontario auction markets this week, down 2,431 head from the previous week and 1,234 head less than the same week last year. Auction markets reported last week stockers sold at steady prices. This week, light volumes of feeder cattle sold actively at steady prices and stockers traded actively at firm prices. Actual average prices collected this week saw steers from 400-500 lbs trading $22.45/cwt weaker than last week on average, 500-600 lbs down $37.99/cwt, 600-700 lbs down $15.57/cwt, 700-800 lbs down $19.79/cwt, 800-900 lbs were up $17.95/cwt, steers 900-1000 lbs down $8.46/cwt and steers 1000 lbs plus averaged $0.79/cwt weaker than the previous week’s weighted average prices. Heifers from 300-400 lbs were up $7.32/cwt from last week on average, 400-500 lbs down $8.89/cwt, 500-600 lbs down $0.52/cwt, 600-700 lbs down $44.51/cwt, 700-800 lbs up $5.40/cwt, 800-900 lbs up $8.84/cwt and heifers 900 lbs and over averaged $3.01/cwt stronger than the previous week’s weighted average prices. For the week ending February 8th, Eastern feeder exports to the US were 860 head, 42% higher than last year and 31% above the five-year average. YTD Eastern feeder exports are up 1% from last year.
