Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-05-17
WELL TAKEN BUTCHER SToct
BEING IN BETTER DEMAND
THAN STEERS.
GENERAL REDUCTION OF FIVE,
IN THE HOG MARKET
Packers Tried to Force Prices OFF Ten,
But Were Unable to, Because Of
Outsiders Activity = Offerings Well
Cleaned Up, at cIose-Market for
Lambs Lower.

Chicago. May 17.-Buyers today
evinced much stronger desire for
good butcher cattle than for steers, and
While the latter held at steady prices,
there We're instances where the former
sold at Slightly advanced prices. The
were we'll taken.
Shippers have been active support
ers of the market in late days, good
outlet for beef in the east being a
strong stimulus to the local trade,
While the satisfactory situation in local
and nearby consumption channels also
caused packers TO buy freely. Export
demands however. have been generally
small. The trade abroad is not in such
shape as TO afford liberal buying on
this side. Competition in the British
market is keen from South America
and American exporters are not max
ing profits. which encourages greater
activity in shipping from the states.
Handy weight fat steers have had
preference from packers and shippers
thruout, altho there has been strong
demand for the best heavy steers.
Yearlings also sold we'll but since last
Wednesday the yearling demand
slumped and prices went lower.
The country has wisely ceased liq-
uidating half fat and medium steers
and gone to buying corn with which
20 finish them, since there has been a
better outlook for the future of the
market. Quality of the supply has been
quite good for week, a considerable
number of good to choice Nebraska
and Kansas steers being among ar
rivals, While Missouri feeders also mar
keted liberal supply along with the
western Iowa shippers.
Hogs.
Packers tried for the greater part of
the day, to force prices off 10 cents,
but because of the activity of outsid-
ers. they were unable 10 secure their
quota at less than a 5-cent reduction
Some undergrade, mixed sorts, sold at
a decline of 10 cents, but such recess
sions We're by no means general Of
ferings We're we'll cleaned up at the
close.
A significant feature of the past
weeks trade is that local killers Sc
cured about $4,000 less hogs than dur
ing the corresponding period of 1908.
Shippers have taken practically the
same number as a year ago. May re-
ceipts 10 date here are about $4,000
less than a year ago.
Fresh meat consumption is enorm-
Gus, owing in no small measure TO the
high price of mutton, and packers are
cleaning up stocks accumulated during
the winter with gratifying rapidity
and at substantial profits. The south
is buying cured meats and Europe has
somewhat unexpectedly entered the
marke. for lard. While this trade lasts
packers are not anxious to hammer
hog values. What they will do when
stocks have been depleted and the June
run of hogs begins will logically as
sumo the shape of bear campaign,
but until grass muttons arrive and
beef takes drop in price no serious
damage will be done to the hog mar
ket.
Sheep We're slow and steady. and
lambs were 10M20 cents lower than
last weeks close. Receipts more than
equalled demand, and the quality was
not of the best.
Killers assert that demand for
dressed mutton has slackened owing
TO high prices. Supply Is scant, how
ever. and buyers have acted as tho
they need material. There is less stuff
around Chicago to be marketed than
ever before at this season. There is
only one thing that will cause break,
and that is if the consumer quits eat
ing mutton. Until last Monday prices
on dressed mutton had not been raised
to the consumer. but during the week
prices We're advanced and the increase
IN price may scare consumers. but
when they buy steaks or pork chops
they will find them nearly as high as
lamb shops. Many traders think the
market has seen the extreme top, es-
pecially on wooded stock, yet they
would not be surprised to see choice.
clipped lambs sell higher One thing
certain is, there will be a wider range
between good and medium lambs than
heretofore this season. Big dressing
choice lambs will sell higher and the
other comparatively lower The last
few days have developed the fact that
the dressing is having more effect than
ever