East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1909-02-08
POOR QUALITY
AND POOR PRICES
PAST WEEK WAS BAD ONE
FOR ALL BUT TOP STUFF
Poor Steers and Cows are Not Want
cd Even at Greatly Reduced Fig
ures While Top Grade Quality is
Firm at Advanced Prices-Killers
are Discriminating,
BY Hyman II. Cohen.


Portland Union Stockyards, Feb.
ct was a bad week for shippers
Of poor quality in the local livestock
market during the past six days. AL
though displaying a very good tone
for everything that was first class
in cattle during the week the off
grade arrivals were sent to a lawer
range and even then packers were not
inclined to trade.
The disposition of SchwarZchild &
Sulzberger to ignore the local market
whenever possible is causing some ad-
verse talk among the livestock trade,
both buyers and sellers joining in.
The fact that the Portland yards is
union affair and that the highest
bidder is invariably given the stock,
has proved the best thing for produc-
ers and better prices are, therefore
obtained In making shipments to any
one Of the local livestock commits
sion men than is possible to obtain
were the supplies sold at the home
town with merely one buyer bidding.
Half Fats. Find no Favor.
Half fat cattle or very thin stuff
found little favor among buyers DUR
ing the past week, and values are,
therefore. from 25 to so cents lower
than those in effect during the prevl-
Gus six days. A total of 1858 head of
cattle were received during the week.
not a very liberal amount, but prac-
linz Ia hu nf nf
ion quality while the remaining lots
were medium or top stuff. The re-
ceipt of so much poor stuff when this
market will absorb but limited am
cunt rather hurt the trade in finest
quality, and even the best stuff did
not move off quite as readily as it
should
The cattle market at this time is
simply a case of supply and demand,
with packers filled to overlooking
with supplies and showing little dis
position to invest more money. There
seems little likelihood of any serious
break in prices on best stuff, although
the tone may rule duller than other
wise.
Hit Prices of Poor Hogs.
Poor grade of hogs suffered in
price along with the poor cattle. The
run for the week was 1897 head.
compared with 2O65 week ago and
2101 for the week ending February
90. While this weeks run of hogs
was smaller than during recent peri
ods the arrivals of so much poor stuff
had tendency to break values and
quotations are. therefore, from 25 TO
so cents under those of last week.
Top hogs that could have been readi-
~ moved at 81 last week were hard
10 sell during the latter part of this
week. even at S6.75, and in number
of instances top quality did not
bring that figure. As one prominent
commission hanrler expressed 1t, good
hogs are always in demand and al
ways bring good price. 1t is In a
market like this that the real test
OF quality is shown, buyers always
showing much discrimination as to
quality when prices are not so firm.
Sheep Scarce, but Very High.
There was again a limited showing
OF sheep arrivals In the Portland
yards during the past week. Total |
run for the six days was but S17 head |
compared with 235 week ago, 1855 |
two weeks ago, and 713 three weeks
ago. While there has been much |
controversary among the livestock |
trade in general as to the height that |
sheep values will range the present |
season, It is now generally agreed |
that prices will reach little II any |
above present heights. There was an
advance of 25c in sheep during the
past week.
General Values.
The following is the general range |
of values on stock ruling in the yards
for late shipment:
Hogs-Best east of mountains, |
$6.5O@6.75; ordinary, s6.25; blockers
and feeders, $5.75.
Cattle-Best steers weighing 1900 |
pounds, $5.25; medium steers, $3.50 |
OATS; poor steers, $4.25; best cows,
$4.OO@4.25; medium cows, $500 |
S.75.
Sheep-Best wethers, $5.25@5.50;
ordinary wethers, $685. lambs, $500 |
@6.25; straight ewes, $5.00@5.25;
mixed lots, $5.00@5.25.
yeal-Choice young calves, $3.50; |
heavy, rough, $4,50@475.