Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-01-03
Annual New England
Livestock Report.

business done in the local livestock |
markets during the past year was we'll |
in excess of the figures for 1910, and |
compared favorably with the high rec |
ords of previous years. In most classes I
of stock high prices have prevailed, |
though prices averaged below the |
prices of 1910. The heavy receipts |
were due chiefly to the high prices OF
feed, which led raisers of stock to mar
I{et their animals rather than to keep
them at heavy cost. This has resulted
in marked decrease in the number
of animals left on the farms and
ranges. This has been particularly
true Of cattle. in which during the past
year there was "a shortage or about
100000 at the principal markets. The
West has a very small supply LETT, ana
a scarcity is predicted for the coming
year. The larger receipts here nave
been due TO a larger supply OF milch
cows and to heavy shipments of poor
COWS from New York and other Sec
tons. where milk and butter raisers
We're wedding out their poor cows be-
cause of the high cost of feed. The
percentage of choice beef cattle from
New England apparently is showing
little increase. and for the best cattle
the market has to depend on the West.
Prices of the best beef cattle were well
maintained during the year, and at all
times there was good demand for
this grade, at prices ranging from go
715c. while few extra choice steers
have brought slightly more.
As during 1910, the market at one
time in the fall was gIutted with poor
cows. chiefly from New York state,
and prices of Gamers and bolognas,
which comprised the greater part of
these cows, were very low, from u
m2Lc. These COWS We're bought at
low figures and sold at any price they
would bring, the object being to get
them out of the way. The market
here usually is better than the New
York market on this quality. Most of
the beef cattle offered at the yards
consist of medium to good cows, and
there has been more change in quota
tons OF these than in any other grade
Of cattle. While they have averaged
from 4AG4Ae.. they have sold as high
as 5Ac.. and at times the top quota
ton has been not over 4Ac. Total re-
eeipts of cattle, while larger than for
1910, we're smaller than for many years
previous, with the exception.<of 1903,
when business generally was depressed.
Heavy Marketing of Hogs.
The heavy marketing of hogs
brought sharp decline in the price,
which eliminated in May. after which
there was recovery of nearly two
cents, followed by another decline
nearly to the lowest figures. At the
beginning of the year live hogs were
quoted at SM3Ac., but they declined
10 5T M6Ae., advancing again to *
fDSc. in August, since when they have
been steadily declining. The large
supply early in the year was due chief
~ to the high cost of feed. and this has
heen a factor also In the recent heavy
receipts. as corn is selling much higher
than year ago. OF late also the fear
of cholera epidemic has led to the
marketing of n large number of hogs,
while prices have been weakened by
large supplies of pork products. The
influence of high cost of feed has been
shown in the receipt of a large num-
her of small pigs, which under ord-
nary conditions the raiser would have
fattened TO maturity, and which can
not have been profitable to sell. 1t was
noted that a considerable proportion
of these had been under-fed, indicating
that farmers did not feel able to keep
them. Most New England dealers
state that there is still a good supply
of hogs in the country, despite the
heavy shipments.
Veal calves hold steader than any
other class of livestock, and the supply
varies less. Receipts during the past
year were the smallest for a number
of years, due perhaps TO the more
stringent inspection here. Early in the
year this was particularly noted. and
for time dealers had great difficulty
in disposing of the smaller calves.
which would weigh close to the legal
limit. OF late, however. the demand
has been better. and small calves have
found a more active market. Prices
of veal calves ranged from 6@9c., but
the average has been from 7mSc. for
good veals while fancy veals have
commanded more at most times. Yer
mont supplies the bulk of the calves
brought TO market, as might be ex-
pected from the fact that Vermont is
primarily a dairy section. Only small
percentage of the calves received come
from outside of New England,
Receipts Of Sheep.
The receipts of sheep and lambs have
been very large, the total being the larg-
est since 1904. During the past quarter
the receipts have been particularly
heavy, and there has been a big rush te
market. The supply of sheep and lambs
in the west has been greatly reduced.
siiii 1t Is thought that there may he a
scarcity later The heavy receipts have
brought low prices, the range on sheep
being from 1hm5e.. while lambs have
sold from 4dt.c. The greatest increase in
the receipts during the past year was
from the west but Maine sent a much
larger number, while Vermont increas ed
moderately. The receipts from Canada
were much smaller.
Conditions in the mich COW market
have not been greatly different from a |
year ago. on the whole the business has
been unsatisfactory. Offerings We're
heavy, as farmers were inclined to keep
few cows as possible, owing to the
high cost There was less trouble over
the milk question than during the pre-
vious year, and during the latter part of
1911 little was heard on this question |
Dealers report that raisers of milk with
IN a moderate distance of Boston have |
reduced their stock as the milk dealers |