East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1909-11-08
SURVEY OF WEEKS
LIVESTOCK MARKET
SHIPPERS LEARN SOME
THINGS ABOUT "BUCKING,'

6.-This has been week full of pain
full experiences to those who have per-
sisted In "bucking" the market. When
the word went forth from livestock
commission handlers that cattle ship
pers would save money by holding
their stuff for a week or 10 days. the
advice was well meant, and had II
been fully followed would have re-
suited in holding the cattle market
steady instead Of showing a severe de-
cline, as was the actual result during
the past week.
While the movement of cattle to the
yards at Stockdale during the week
was not so heavy by over a thousand
head as compared with a week ago,
still the already overful condition Of
the yards made every additional ship
ment that much toward bringing down
the level of values.
Leases all Available Ground for Cattle.
So thoroughly do packers and
butchers believe In an ultimate ad-
vance in cattle values, that they were
doing themselves just what it was the
financial duty Of the shippers and
raisers to do-feed and get their live
stock into marketable conditions for
a time when 1t would be actually
needed.
Every available acre of vacant land
that could be possibly pressed into
service for the holding of surplus cat
tie, was leased by the various butchers
and packers of the Pacific northwest
during the past week.
Those who shipped an ordinary or
inferior grade of cattle to the market
during the past week found to their
sorrow that buyers meant exactly
what they said last week when they
advised shippers to keep their stuff at
home for awhile. Sales OF ordinary
lots OF cattle were made during the
week at reduction Of from 25 to soc
from previous quotations. Even at
that slash in prices the yards re-
mained full of cattle almost all week;
some days from 25 to 80 steers being
carried over owing to the lack OF buy
ers.
Good Cattle Always Sell High.
Lesson after lesson has been repeat
ed in this market to show breeders
and raisers that 1t pays to ship good
stuff at all times. No matter what !
the condition of the general trade |
there is always a demand at better
price for something better in quality |
than the ordinary run.
Witness, therefore, the sale Of one |
lot Of extra select stock from the |
Prineville section--the section that |
knows how to ship marketable cattle |
at $3.50 for steers, while the general |
market for steers was practically soc
lower.
Those who received the Prineville
shipment experienced practically no
in unloading at the highest
price in weeks while the same people
found trouble galore in selling what
ordinary quality presented itself for
sale.
Another instance Of this was the
sale today of two loads of cows at
$3.50, when the general market was
fully half a dollar less.
Market is In shippers Care.
Cattle market for the coming week
s entirely in the care OF shippers
Like a physician they can
cure the trade OF its troubles or an
,verdose of poison-receipts-can be
handed the trade. Today the cattle
market is practically cleaned up so
as as possible in the Stockdale yards
ire concerned, but II must not be for
gotten that butchers and killers have
quite liberal holdings of surplus cat
lie and that these must be worked off
,efore the market can become prime
gain. /.
From this time forth killers will de-
nand more than ever better grade
Il cattle than they have been receiv-
ng but they have shown an inclina-
ion to pay for quality whenever pre-
ented.
Lower prices for future trading
would be the fault Of shippers them
elves. Killers, themselves, with their
urplus holdings Of cattle, are specu-
ating upon the markets future and :
for while at least high
r prices would be most favorable to
heir interests.
See-Saw Market For Hogs.
Why the prices see-sawed in the To- :,
al hog market during the week was
he result mostly Of heavier arrivals
nan expected and very poor quality
1 general. Few real "toppy" hogs
'ere offering in the yards during the =
eek and naturally the general range
values was not so high.
Interest at the close of the week 4
entered around the shipment of sew :
raj loads of Nebraska hogs for the :
pen market here. Portland has long
cen known as the most favorable
nd fast growing hog market for It's
ze in the United States. Therefore
should not be surprising were many
lore shipments to come here from the
Tree Planter" state.
Portland, therefore is now in active
ompetition with Chicago. Omaha and
-ansas City for hog shipments and
hen the several new packing plants
ere are completed the competition
i'll become more pronounced.
Sheep Movement is Small.
Movement of sheep to Portland the
asst week consisted of 1902 head COM