, 1884-02-12
CHICAGO CATTLE.
A Review Of Affairs at the Stock Yards
An Encouraging Outlook.

Special Correspondence Democratic Loader
The cattle market at the yards Ii
steady and firm. There has been a
slight increase in the receipts of both
cattle and hogs; and, for the former, a
somewhat weaker feeling was brought
about. For butchers stuff and stock
ers fully previous prices were obtained,
but shipping grades averaged 1oc lower.
The market, however, rules very strong
at the decline.
The week opened with an active de-
mand, and Notwithstanding the rainy
weather sellers managed to dispose OF
most of their consignments at fully
previous prices. The eastern demand
was lively, and what shippers of live
cattle did not take were wanted by the
home trade. dressed beef operators and
Gamers being free buyers.
There was the usual scarcity of choice
beeves, and sales of such grades were
checked by inadequate supplies, the re-
ceipts running largely to common light
droves. Still there were more cattle
weighing over 1900 pounds on the
market than usual, and a few droves
averaged over 1,400 pounds.
There vas a very good demand for
cows and mixed cattle and the general
market was very brisk at good prices
Inferior to fair kinds Of cows and
mixed stock did not sell remarkably
well but the general demand was good
and the supply was moderate.
There were few fresh arrivals of
stockers and feeders, but there were
large accumulations and holders found
the market dull, buyers complaining of
high prices.
AS the week advanced receipts were
larger and as arrivals consisted mostly
of inferior grades of cattle, there was
an excessive SUPPLY of such descrip-
tions and prices ruled weak and about
LOG 15c per hundred pounds lower on
all grades below choice. The shippers
bought lighter and a good share of the
trade was done by dressed beef opera
tors. Weights of shipping beeves al
from 1150 up to 1400 pounds and a few
lots weighed as high as 1925 to 1885
pounds, but there were not enough cat
tie of that kind to admit of a free ex-
port movement.
For cows and mixed cattle there was
a reasonably active demand on local
butcher and canning account and the
market on the whole was about steady.
In some cases, prices were not consid-
cred quite as strong, but there was no
quotable difference.
Supplies Of stockers and feeders were
heavy and the trade was dull and slow.
There was some inquiry for stock but
prices than were offered.
Toward the close of the there was a
continued weakening Of all shipping
grades below choice, owing to continued
heavy receipts of beeves of such de-
scriptions. The weakness seemed to be
most pronounced in cattle weighing
1,15O to 1880 pounds, and the average
decline was about 10c, making a loss of
zoe since the opening of the week.
Dressed beef operators were more lib.
eral in their purchases than shippers of
live etock, and they also competed with
city butchers for cows, a large supply
Of which was offered. Gamers were
also free buyers, and cows and mixed
lots ruled active at fully previous quo-
tations.
There was a strong demand for
stockers and feeders. The supply was
fair but not adequate, and sales were
quick at fully former rates.
Sales range as follows:
Choice to prime steers, So. .25:
good to choice steers, So. 25@6.75;
fair to good shipping steers, IS. 5596.2 90;
common to medium shipping steers
S5.00@5 6. 500; butchers steers, "a GOA
5.25; cows, common to good, SO. 0O(9
4.50; stockers, common to good, S3.7O
CATO: feeders, good to choice, S4.7 56
500; mich COWS, common to choice,
per head, 100000; veal calves, per hun
dred pounds, s4.OO97.5O.
Receipts Of choice grades Of sheep
were very scanty, while poor lots were
excessive supply. Sales we're at SO. 90
95.65 for poor to choice.