Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-01-11
HOG CROP LARGE.
Excessive Marketing of Light Hogs
Indicates CLEANING Up Of Tao Ends.

Indicates Cleaning UP Of Tag Ends.
Chicago. Jan. IA writer in the
Livestock World says: December's
heavy marketing Of immature procine
, stock was regarded as seasonabie in
packing circles. The country is clean
Ing up the surplus. preparatory TO cold
weather. said the killers in chorus.
They always do at this season
But the movement shows no abate-
ment. Light and light mixed stuff
was almost drug on several market
sessions last week. Fat-backs as un-
popular last summer as light grades
l~have been lately are the kind now
sought by the packers who Invariably
want whatever Is most limited in
supply.
The country always INDUCES in a
cleaning up in December prior to the
holidays when light stun is abnorm
ally plentiful. Charles Cooper, of the
National Packing Company, unques-
| tionably an authority. says in his ex
perience December has always been
bargain period for bacon hog buyers,
and that light stuff is always looked
for in large quantities at that period.
George Pratt, of the Armour force.
also an authority. regarded the big
rush of light in December not only as
seasonable, but indicative Of a heavy
crop of hogs in the finisbers hands,
contending that the average farmer
feeds about so many. marketing the
surplus before January's cold waves
approach, and that a Large run of
trash In December Indicated big
pig crop Contirmatory of this he
| pointed to early marketing of sows.
Logic engendered of such lengthy ex-
perience is always deserving of con-
sideration.
But the grower displays no marked
determination to fatten the portion of
the crop carried over the holidays. He
is sending them in right along. The
inquirer naturally asks about the con-
dition of porcine health only to elici.
the information that disease is rare
and can not be construed as RESPONSE
BILE for the movement. There are cog
nent reasons, however, and they are
not hard to seek. Corn has advanced
simultaneously with provisions and
hogs, and the grower is uncertain
whether to convert his corn into pork
or keep 1t in the crib. To take the lat
ter horn of dilemma means shipping
his hogs light, and surface indications
are that many are mining their faith
TO corn. Another reason is that ship
pers who have made good money on
the recent bulge have secured the
country high and low. and finding ut
lie finished stock, have bought the
immature portion of the crop. This
contention. which is not Illogical. IA
yors the bull side of the market. Many
shippers assert that they have sent In
light because they could get no other
kind. and restraining the impulse to
shin OIL a raised market Is difficult.
Still another reason is that many feed
lots were without cattle and hogs are
not need to follow them.
consequences are logical. Last sea-
son. ii will be remembered, feed lots
we're full of cattle. and Il large portion
of the pig crop was held back until
| long after the normal time for mar
| keting. Cattle feeders were hopeful
| of a market recovery and We're loarhe
TO let the hogs go in advance OF the
| cattle. the result being a flood of fat
| lard hogs late in the summer, to the
| decentralization of the plans of certain
| packers who were engineering lard
| corner. This year, With fewer cattle
| on feed and less need for hogs TO FOL
| low, IL they come light, comparative
1 scarcity of finished stock later In the
season is almost certainty
| Prediction has been freely made IN
| market circles lately that conditions
/ OF 1904 will be a reversal of those or
1903 and this may be true OF nogs,