Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-19
MEAT ON THE HOOP.
Leading Features of Live Stock Trade
at Herr'S Island.
OHIO FARMERS BROUGHT TO GRIEF
By Holding Cattle Through Winter in Hope
of an Advance.
ABIG RUN OF SHEEP, LAMBS AND HOGS
OFFICE OF PITTsBURG DISPATCH
MONDAY, February Is. 1889.

HI
MONDAY. February Is, 1859. !
Receipts of cattle were 81 cars, against q
last week. In the receipts was one car load
of very fine Ohio cattle, weighing from / 900
to 1000 pounds each.
Concerning these 16 or IL head of cattle il
was learned that the drover who had them fol
sale had made an effort to secure them from q
forehanded stock farmer of Ohio last fall and
had then made an offer of &c. The price asked
was &c, and the owner concluded to hold them
through the winter, since corn was plenty,
rather than make any concession on his price.
He would turn his corn and fodder into tallow
and realize his price toward spring. But, con-
trary to calculations and all former experience,
heavy cattle have been drifting steadily down
ward in price, and the stock for which &c was
refused last fall offered at Hers Island to-
day at Sc The farmer who wanted &c accepted
&c,
The winters keeping of this bunch of cattle
enUaied loss on the owner of not less than
$50 head, a total of $500. But, according
TO all past experiences, he did the wise thing
with his abundant corn CROP to hold his stock.
This winters trade has, however, upset all
calculations based on past experience.
In the Herr-s Island supplies OF cattle the
grade averaged up better than for many years
past.
There were loads of nice. smooth stock.
weighing about l,600 pounds. Only carloads
fell below LOCO pounds. The balance, aside
from those already named, were nice butcher
stock ranging from 100 to ], 400. The range Of
prices for this class was &c to 419c. Those
weighing 600 and under were sold at SIC A
few of the ]. 800 Founders brought &c, but these
were exceptionally fine.
The whole situation of markets was in the
buyers favor. The present must be harvest
time for butchers if they had a reasonable
profit last fall when prime cattle sold at from
&c to &c.
Receipts of hogs we're the largest for many
weeks, the total being 100 head. against 600
last week and for several weeks before.
The outside price for smooth hogs, weighing
about 200 was Sc, and the number that reached
this figure was small. The average was not
above 43zc. Roughs sold as low as 4lc. Heavy
hogs were slowest, as they have been all this
season.
The range of prices for packing hogs at Chi
cago to-day is 81 1904 65, which is a shade bet
ter than closing rates OF Saturday.
The prediction of one OF our leading pork
packers month ago. that hogs would finally
settle down to a basis not far from 81 does not
made. Those weighing 400 to 500 pounds will
bring little, if any, above this price in the pres
ent markets.
Sheep and Lambs.
The run on sheep and lambs was larger than
for months past, and double that of last week.
The total was l,0OO head. Last week, with re-
ceipts of 200 head, there were not enough to
meet demands. The famine has been followed
by a feast. Last week prices went I'D 15c on
the short supply, and good wethers were sold
at SIC. This week the very best were slow at
Sc. A carload of extra fine wethers, weighing
l25 10 $50 pounds each, were offered at &C. and
it is reported that this figure was shaded a
lit e. The range in price of lambs was SIC to
81 Veal calves are scarce, but prices are un-
changed.