Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-01-03
Ruled in Livestock Market
Throughout 1909.
Recovery from Depression Of
Year Very Thorough.
Foreign Scare Over and Demand
For American Cattle Active.

Brighton, Mass, Jan. 2.-(SpeclaD.-
High prices have ruled in the live
stock market during the past year and
for the most part conditions have
been favorable. Receipts of stock have
been lighter than during the previous
year, but this has been offset to some
extent by reduced demand. The recov-
cry from the depression of 1908 has
been thorough, and the outlook for the
coming year is very encouraging.
There has been no marked difference
in receipts. except in hogs, the supply
was considerably smaller than in 1908.
The receipts of hogs from New Eng
laid points fell off largely, and the
available supply has been pretty we'll
reduced. While prices for all kinds
of stock have been high, the high
prices of feed and the scarcity of pas
ture have increased the cost of rails
ing, and the profits have been larger.
The receipts Of beef cattle have been
slightly in excess Of the figures of last
year, owing to the scantineSS OF pas
ture during much of the year, and the
dull market for mich cows, farmers
have sold many of their poorer cows
for beef, and the supply of the cheap
grades has been large. The inspection
law has proved not TO be a burden, and
the market has adjusted itself to the
law. Prices Of beef cattle have adj
vanced quite steadily from the first
Of the year. except for the poorer
grades, Gamers and bolognas, which
at times have been in too great sup
ply, and have sold very low For the
oh hn ply of fJn ihn-
ginning of the year was quoted at
6d6&c., but at present extra choice
steers bring from to ne. The West
ern markets have been quoted higher
than the local market on this grade,
the top figures representing fancy ex-
port cattle. The foreign scare has
passed away and the demand for our
cattle has been active during most of
the year. The local demand for cheap
cows has improved and the public has
evidently recovered from their fears
and is consuming the products of the
lows grade cattle freely again. Prices
for the poorest cows have ranged
from 1R@3c.
Mich COWS have been dull during
the greater part of the year. and prices
have shown scarcely any change. Or
dirary cows have ranged from $25 to SO,
with fancy mixers at higher prices
according to their individual merit.
Some extra choice cows have brought
from 800 to SIPS. The supply of milcn
COWS has been heavy. Practically all
Of the mich cows come from New
England or eastern New York, and this
section has suffered from drought
again, so that pasturage has been linn
tied and farmers have sent cows to
pasture more freely. The same condi-
ton has reduced the demand for mich
COWS, and on the whole the market
has been unsatisfactory. Another fac
tor that has reduced the demand for
mich cows is the disagreement regard
ing the price of milk between far1n-
ors and the distributors. This has re-
suited in the abandonment of milk
raising by several large producers, VINO
assert that they cannot produce milk
at profit at the current prices. The
state inspection of mich COWS has
been carried out as usual, and very
little complaint is heard now from the
shippers, most of whom recognize the
value of the test. Inspection Of COWS at
private barns in the country is becom-
ing more common. and some large
dairy farms have their COWS inspect
ed regularly. a
Hogs have been extremely active in
demand during the year, and the
prices have been higher than for many
years previous, the advance during the
year has amounted to over cents
pound. At the beginning of the year
live hogs were quoted at 6Bd63sc. per
lb whereas now they bring from
81. 8S3sc. readily, and the supply is
inadequate to the demand. The ad-
vance has been quite steady through
out the year, only slight and brief de-
clnes having occurred. Shippers IRON
New England have sent to market all
the hogs they could Obtain ana the
supply in the country must ne smal
at present as the price has been at-
tractive. Receipts from New England
have hepO light deSpite the efforts OF