, 1884-04-11
CATTLE MARKET.
Fair Demand for Beeves at the Chicago
Yards.

ShlNAuof ApIu I--lHe CdIue marker
rules slow, and prices are weak on all de,
scriptions of fat cattle suitable for the
dressed beef and shipping demand. Elk,
port orders are limited in number and
price. Butchers stock is steady and un.
changed. In stockers and feeders trading
is light. The receipts of last month fell
10000 short of the same time a year ago,
but there was an increase of 5000 Texas
cattle, mostly corn fed. Few really prime
cattle are received.
The week opened with light receipts
and a very active demand. Hence the
market was stronger, and in a good many
instances desirable shipping and dressed
beef beeves brought l0c more than could
be obtained at the close of last week. No
fancy, extra heavy cattle were received,
but a fair proportion of the offerings
graded very well, and fat steers of fair to
good weights sold very freely. The ship
ping trade was quite active, and commits
sion merchants managed in most instances
to effect sales without any trouble.
For tidy, fat cows and heifers and nice
lots of fat butchering steers, there was a
reasonably strong demand and only a mod
crate supply. Values ruled steady and
1rm. Low grade cattle were in full sup
ply and sold slowly. The canning demand
was weak. A good number of corn fed
Texans were included in the receipts, and
they were disposed of readily.
The market for stockers and feeders was
dull, the offerings being fair and the de-
mand small. There was no quotable diff
ference in prices, however, Good to choice
young cattle were scarce and commanded
fully former rates.
As the week advanced, the receipts
were moderate in number and fair in
quality. The demand was of fair strength
but the export trade was not active.
Some good, heavy beeves sold at about
steady prices, and some fine, pony built
lots sold at stronger rates. Thin, rough
grades, on the other hand, were moi
wanted and sold slowly, values beinl
barely maintained. No strictly fancy
heavy, fat cattle we're offered and yer,
few animals weighed over 1885 pounds.
In the market for cows and mixed
cattle, buyers were in fair attendance,
The city butchers bought with som,
freedom, and prices for the best grade
were firm. Fat cow and heifers and tidy
butcher steers were not very plentiful
and sold well. The dressed beef trade
did a fair share of the buying, and a good
part of the best COVE fell into their
hands, Gamers taking the poorer ones.
Corn fed Texas cattle were rather scarce
and in good demand.
The offerings of stockers and breeders
were light. The inquiry was fair, but the
volume of business was necessarily small.
Prices, however, were strong on anything
that was good.
Toward the close of the week the arriv-
ais showed a large increase. The demand
failed to show any corresponding improve
ment, however, and the advance gained
early in the week was lost. The highest
grades were nominally firm and unchang-
ed, none being offered, but good to rather
choice fat stock ruled weaker, as there was
hardly any export inquiry and sellers had
to depend entirely on eastern shippers to
relieve them of their consignments. The
demand was mainly for good fat beeyes Of
medium weight, and next to fancy extra
heavy steers, these grades showed the
most strength. There was nothing in
eastern advices calculated to inspire conf
dence, and buyers generally made their
purchases with considerable caution. Com
mon to rather choice shipping stock chang
ed ownership at 25; the bulk going
at So. 4O(G6.
Butchers stock and canning lots gener-
ally sold at fully former prices, the de-
mand for those classes being very ami
mated at $3@5 for inferior to choice cow
and So. 5O@5 for bulls. Light steers sold
at $5(G5.3 IS. Dressed beef operators got
a fair share of the best cows, while the
cheaper ones were taken for canning pur-
poses. A very few choice COWS fetched
S5.25. Corn fed Texans were in small
supply and quickly taken at S.. 75@ 5.95.
Several loads of still fed bulls were amonp
the offerings, and they sold at 81. 1850
4.S73.
There was a little more life in the
stocker trade and while prices did not ad,
vance the feeling was better. Country
buyers were in good attendance and the
small supply changed hands at 50. 759
$4.75 for poor to prime. Feeders were
not much sought, but the few suitable
offerings were taken at IS. OO9S5. Is.
At the opening of the week receipts of
sheep were large and the feeling a triae
weak. Later, however, there was a
fairly active shipping trade, and a lively
local demand 50 that prices ruled about
fifteen cents higher than at the close Of
last week, choice, fat sheep having ad,
vanced the most. Sales range at a. 400
$3.50, the bulk going at about S..
SpsiinntI Water,
Tho koct r,;por,1 ,ro.,r -, IL. III II