Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-01-03


slaughter houses from the West have
been also less than year ago. !.
The market for, veal calves has
shown very little change, and prices
nave ranged from 61a@Sc. throughout
the year. with some fancy calves high
err than these figures, and small thin
calves at lower prices. The receipts
have been about as usual, and the
supply of veal calves varies little from
wear to year. There is a steady de-
mand, which seldom shows any i'm
portant increase.
AS usual the slaughter houses have
received the bulk of the receipts of
sheep and lambs, and most Of the ar
rivals at the yards have been sold to
these houses. The market for sheep
and lambs is restricted to a greater
extent than the market for any other
| class OF stock. Total receipts have
| been little greater than during 1909,
| but the increase has been no more
| than normal. Sheep have sold during
the year at 214@5c., while lambs have
| ranged from to &C. The highest level
| of the year was obtained in May, since
when there has been substantial re-
| cession, sheep at present averaging
| from 3 to 4iac, and lambs from to 7c
EXPORT CATTLE TRADE.
Shipments from live cattle from Bos-
ton during the past year show but a
small decrease in the aggregate amount
of stock sent forward. In 1905 there
were shipped to the Liverpool, London
and Manchester markets, 114.122 cat
tie, against 110,492 cattle during 1909
Prices were we'll sustained at q range
of 11iAc. per lb. dressed weight, for the
| inferior cattle, up to 15l2c. dressed
weight paid for extra fancy steers,
| shipped mostly for the Christmas
trade. These quotations have not ad-
vanced proportionately with the high
er prices prevailing for Western ranch
cattle suitable for the export trade, and
shippers complain constantly of heavy
losses.
The export trade of sheep has been
curtailed to a marked degree, and some
of the recent shipments have brought
4 loss of 81 per head to the exporter
N 1908 there was shipped from Boston
27,206 head of sheep. while in 1909 the
-otal shipment was only 5272 sheep,
showing a decrease of 1881 sheep.
shipments Of beef quarters have been
equally light, showing a decrease of
-03.705 beef quarters during the past
Jear. A serious loss to our export traf
.ic has been felt in the competition of
ou:' cattle and the cattle from the
South American ranches, in the Brit
sh markets. Stock in South America
are bought more cheaply in their home
CT nd q rc
consequently sold lower in the foreign
markets. An increased consumption of
resh beef in the United States, to-
yether with the higher prices of feed,
also the scarcity of choice cattle, have
all combined to hold prices exception
ally high during the year, and have
cut materially into the exporters prof
is. Considerable Canadian stock has
been shipped from Boston, which is
generally of inferior quality, and can
3e bought more cheaply.
THE HORSE MARKET.
The horse market at the close of 1909
howS much more prosperous years
l!ade than that of the preceding year,
when business was materially ham,
)ered by the tightnesS of the money
market, and it's consequent curtailing
Of general business where horses are
! n use Dealers claim a larger amount
i business transacted profitably this
asst year. The general trade has been
tctive, and prices on the average run
If horses of quality have ruled strong.
During the year Their has bn constant
Inland for heavy horses, and prices on
he best drafters of weight were high,
It Il range of $500 $475, and $250@S350
or the more medium weights. The in
reased lumber industry has provided
and outlet for rugged horses suitable
or the woods, and large amount have
been shipped during the logging sea-
son. Light commercial horses, sold
mostly for milk teams, express and
delivery horses have moved more Slow
V than any other one type ON the mar
let, excepting blemished secondhand
lorses. Prices on the lighter COM
nercial horses have averaged lower
4han a year ago, on account OF the
smaller demand. High class harness
.lorses have sold readily during the
year, and values have been high. 1t
las been extremely difficult to supply
The demand with the right sort OF
horses, and dealers often report that
double the amount entered would have
found a ready market. The greater
part of the supply Of driving horses
! .las come from northern New York.
| The increasing use Of the automobile
mas not as yet affected the horse trade
| to any great extent.
| The following tables are summary of
| the livestock received during the year OF
| 1909 at the Brighton and Watertown
| Yards, at the N. f. D. NJ. & Wool Co., at
Squire & Cos. and at the North Pkg. Co..
including comparison with the 10 preced-
| ing years:
| SHEEP AND LAMBS.
| Cattle Lambs Calves Hogs
| 1900 - 1872 S24 343 O49 10 154 1.41 .3l6