Fergus County argus., 1904-12-07

MANY Vi lnt MOHldud anu DdhOld
concerns which had been holding back
cattle. awaiting the end of the labor
war, then began shipping operations
on liberal scale, and slump In val
ues was only TO be expected At that
time receipts of native cattle were pill
ing in heavily and trade became badly
overstocked, thus causing a decided
slump in values. Only the top grades,
which then went att s4.75@5.i0. were
really in demand, and the great bulk
OF the offerings sold under 1915, while
many big consignments Of Montana
and Dakota wintered Texas steers sold
for slaughter at prices ranging under
IS.
Thousands Turned Back.
THE low prices ruling In the first
two months of the year caused many
thousands of cattle TO be turned back
onto the range, owners intending at
that time to hold them over for an.
other year. though better values in
late weeks have caused many range
men to reconsider their plans, and the
great part of those which were in.
tended for market early in the sea.
son and were later turned back have
been included in receipts during the
past six weeks, and the general opin-
ion prevails that a comparatively
small number of matured cattle will
be held for another winter. The dan.
gers of heavy losses due to storms
are too great to be withstood and
owners have done wise in shipping
rather than holding through the com.
ing winter.
About the only ones to hold cat.
tie will be the smaller ianchmen, who
have put up a sufficient quantity OF
hay to feed in the cold months, and
probably more winter feeding will be
practiced this year than in the his
tory of the range cattle industry.
The small owners who have facilities
tor putting up hay have been follow.
ing this plan for a number of years
past and results have proven highly
satisfactory. Cattle have come
through the winter in good shape
and made rapid gains in weight in
the early spring and summer months
thus fattening early in the season and
enabling owners to market their hold
ings earlier than in former years and
take advantage of the better mar
kets.
"One thing favorable to rangemen
has been the mild weather late in the
season. Shipping operations have
been carried on much longer than In
most years, considering the lateness
of the season. Offerings later thar
! November l have in most years beer
comparatively small, but this season
: the mild weather was a great hell
TO rangemen and marketing has beer
liberal throughout the past few weeks
: total Of $1,000 arriving during the
month TO date. and the whole months
Iun will total the largest on recort
Tor November. probable total receipts
for the month being estimated at 70,
/, 900, showing an increase of 42,500
compared with arrivals in November
1903, while totaling 10000 above tn,
: previous banner November run, II
1887.
Market is Fair.
an later weeks the market has beel
: less erratic. however, and while price
for bulk of offerings have shown onl.
small improvement and sales hav
been made slowly, rangemen hav
+ been enabled to wind up the seaso
2 under more satisfactory condition
than confronted them in the late sun
4 mer and early fall weeks.
: "Higher prices have been realize
1 for good steers in late weeks tha
, were paid in the beginning of tn
4 | alxy
9 Wyoming steers have gone att $50
. $40, with the top load of the seaso
7 at $5.65, in the week ending Ocic
Der 10Th. The great bulk of 4.year-ol
rangers of good to choice quality hav
d sold at $415@4.50 in late weeks, wit
: the strictly choice lots at S4.75@5.2
:, and occasionally up to $5.40, with no.
!, and then few head of very choic
o steers at $3.50 and up TO $6.
/ Most of the northern wintered TIE,
e as bred steers have in the past mont
y sold at $3.15@375. with top olas
up to S350@3.65, and few poor qua
e tiled and thin lots down at S2.z'
e Early prices ranged largely at $2.65i
1926 and even at these low figure
l. buying was then restricted, many cor
}, belt feeders being at that time in poe
Q shape TO handle cattle. and not unit
the new corn crop was PRACTICAL
+ safe from frost damage did buyin
+, by the corn belt feeders become {
s any very great consequence.
+ "Distillery feeders. however, hay
= patrohined trade fairly literally a
l. season and the number OF still fe'
/ Ia 20. h.. tfaI hnr
h promises to be much larger than
: year ago. Most of the range feeder
n bought by eastern distillery Oper
n tors will be exported direct from I'll
feeding barns, and only a very sma
2 number will likely find sale here.
n Few Cows Marketed.
Q 1.-The proportion of cows markete
y during the season was small, man
l. being held back for breeding purpo
S es. while the amount OF heifer stoC
s sold was also less liberal than in lat
u years. Prices have ruled relative
: higher in this line than in steers an
the range of value scompared favora
l. ly with those current for native butc
n CT stock. Sales Of strictly good COW
s. were largely at s3.25@3.65. with fe
s. lots at 1915 and some very good ives
EN- heifers sold up to $3.50, with bul
: OF common to fair light cows and hei
e ers down at $2,40G2.75 and few i
u .erior lots at $500. Best bulls rarel
4 sold above 1925. with most offerinl
t at s2.4Od2.90 and the inferior kind
s down at s2.0Od2.25.
2 "Top prices for grass western rang
Il cattle at Chicago for seven years:
l. Months lDi: IpoS; W.: so rT