The Detroit times., 1912-03-13
Cattle Market Is Improving and
There Is Big Demand For Horses

prices have ruled ridiculously low.
The cause OF the dullness referred To
was evidently the persistent llqulda-
ton OF native ewes which has finally
subsidized A survey OF the sihlatloA
in connection with stock on feed. the
country over, reveals a marked short
age In mutton producers and an ac'
tive demand for the dressed meat
from the block. In the lamb division,
conditions seem to be completely re-
yersed from those which ruled the
trade last year. Daily receipts in at
markets are greatly lacking In aver
age quality, feature OF the trade
which has direct bearing on vGi.
ues. inasmuch as the killer has the
current market all TO himself. For
many years, the feeder demand for
secondhand lambs, during the month
OF March, has been the leading fea-
ture OF the trade: this year, no sec
ond-hand lambs are wanted for feed.
ing purposes. owing to the high price
at which grain Is selling. II is not
hard to predict the course OF the lamb
market during the spring and early
summer months. the period when the
secondhand lamb usually comes 10
Wool Is active and higher. but this
fact seems 10 have. little effect on the
lamb trade, as hardly any stock Is
being taken out TO be shorn and re-
turned as has been the rule other
years. Pelts are selling for $3.50 to
SO each, fact which, taken together
with the active demand for dressed
lamb. should add greatly 10 the de-
mand for live stock In this depart
ment, The real depressing influence
in the recent market for fat lambs has
been the absence of the feeder from
the market. leaving the seller com.
pletely at the mercy OF the killer.
The current market trade continues
to be we'll supplied with hogs, but
the supply is running largely to ba.
con grades. and worse, with the re-
suit that prime fat hogs are selling
at a substantial premium in all mar
kets. AS in the sheep division, there
is practically no demand for feeding
stock. and sellers are forced TO make
marked concessions on everything
that lacks flesh. As the bulk of the
current offerings are poor In killing
quality, the depressing effect OF this
condition of things on quotations Is
apparent.
On this date last year, conditions
In the hog division OF the trade were
exactly the opposite OF those which
rule this year During the entire
winter OF 1901, hogs were coming
TO market carrying such burden OF
fat that bacon curers found 1t i'm
possible to secure the hogs needed
for their seasons pack. and light hogs
sold at a big premium throughout toe
season. Two years ago, hogs sold
above Sill per cwt., In March; last
year. the range for the same month
was around 81 per cwt for hogs, with
light weights going % 10 30 cents per
cwt. higher.
In studying the drift OF current live
stock values, the horse trade OF the
country cannot be overlooked. II has
been many years since the Marcn de-
mand for work horses was so active
as 1t is at present. Country buyers
find II extremely difficult TO buy the
stock needed to supply the demand
of their shipping operations. and mar
ket values for desirable stock are az
most out of the reach OF men with
moderate means at their disposal.
Mules are equally as scarce and
prices are relatively higher than
those in the horse division. Smooth.
sound mares, weighing from 1900 70
/ 800. are costing from 5000 to $500
each and a decent team OF mules can
not be secured for less than SOW.