East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1909-11-29
REVIEW OF WEEKS
STOCK MARKET
GOOD QUALITY BASIS
OF ALL TRADE VALUES
Buyers Are Insistent In Demand for
Toppy Stuff-Heavy Stock Not Al
ways Best in Cattle and Hogs
Prizes Offered to Improve Quality.


Union Stockyards, Stockdale, Nov,
27-Once upon time 1t was the gem
eral belief-and probably fact too
that cow was COW and steer a
steer in the livestock market, and
quality was scarcely considered. This
was a long time ago and is now so
far out of date that the changed con-
ditions are startling in the extreme.
Good quality livestock forms the
basis of all values in the marts of
trade and while it may have been
possible in years gone by to secure
within a fraction Of the top price for
any sort of livestock, the same is far
from being effective at this time.
SO many times it has been clearly
shown by actual sales in the market
that 1t is not always question Of the
weight of an animal as to what price
1t Will bring in open competition, but
what the quality is For instance
there was a sale of two loads of steers
this week that averaged exactly the
same weight. Yet one sale was made
S5c higher than another This was
due entirely to the quality in one load
and the lack of 1t in the other.
Heavy Stock Not Always Best.
Another incident of exactly the
same character-and on the very
same day-was shown in the market
for COWS. One sale of 81 head that
averaged 942 pounds was made at
1926, while another lot of 22 head
that averaged 20 pounds less went at
a price 35c higher. The same buyer
took both of these lots and yet he
gladly paid 1910 for one and scarce
ly cared for the other lot at 1895.
Even in the calf market the same
sort of dlfferential is shown. There
was a lot of 13 head that averaged
295 pounds that buyers were not ca
ger to get even at $3.50. although
some anxiety was shown by the same
buyer when it came TO a lot of 65
head that averaged 8 pounds less.
There was a difference of 25c between
the price paid for these lots; the diff
ference being in favor of the smaller
stuff.
Same Thing in Hogs. Too.
You could ramble all through the
livestock market and find exactly the
same sort OF conditions. In the trad
ing in the hog market during the
latter part of the week two lots were
placed side by side. one Of them
averaged 203 pounds. while the other
went not above 1873 pounds. It is
generally understood among most
shippers that the heavier the hog the
better the price. but actual trade con-
ditions show that this understanding
is entirely out Of line of actual con-
ditlons. OF the two lots in question,
10c more was paid for the lighter
swine than the lot that was heavier.
That 1t is not the light hog that brings
the highest price II quality of one lot
is as good as in another is shown by
the sale the same day as the other Of
two lots of SO head of hogs that av-
erageG $50 pounds. These went at
$50
Offer Prizes TO Improve Quality.
At late meeting of the Portland
Livestock exchange 1t was decided to
offer n series OF prizes for the best
display of cattle for the open market
on December IA. For the best show
ing of steers (not less than 10 head)
a prize of $50 will be awarded in
the Stockdale yards Cor the sec
on best lot the prize will be SIS The
same conditions rule for the best and
second best showing of a carload of
cows.
For the best showing of an individ-
ual steer the Livestock exchange Will
offer a prize of $25 and for second
best SIS. AS in the carload award,
the same conditions will rule for the
best and next best showing of an in
dividual COW.
After the awarding of the prizes
the displays will be sold to the high
est bidders; thereby securing dou-
BILE values for the animals displayed.
All Livestock Holds Firm.
While there were quite liberal re-
ceipts Of cattle and hogs during the
week. high values ruled in all lines
of livestock for the period The
weeks markets were very firm for all
branches and all prices were safely
maintained. Showing of sheep dur
ing the week was not even as liberal
as last week and a slightly advanced
quotation resulted.
Outlook for operations in the near
future is extremely good.
A year ago for this same week there
was weakness in hogs with values
down about soc. Cattle and sheep
were firm ri unchanged prices.
Tho following is the general range
of livestock values IN tho Yards:
Cattle--Best steers. weighing l2oO
4, T11pntful Steers,