Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-12

,r1eanly Best steers on the market this
week brought $3.50, or Gee above last
week. Cattle sold Thursday at sS.65
that would have brought 50 on Mon
day Quality between $S.4C@9.10 APP
pears to be hit the hardest. Various
reasons are assigned for the decline.
Puyers claim Mondays purchases were
made too high, eastern cattle are run
ming freely with Kentuclsian and Can
adam 'stillers coming into the market
on contract.
In the butcher stock division pack
ers have taken hold more Freely with
most anything that did not como from
tho dairies, buyers being afraid Of
"lUngers."
Receipts have been very light and
the market has responded, general
trade closing with Improvement both
in tone and prices as compared with a
week ago. The advance is 10@15c on
the bulk though many plain butcher
cows, along with Gamer and cutter
stuff, hardly shows the full advance,
while some of the strictly choice fat
cows and heifers are selling 15@ Csc
above week ago.
The advance has lifted the market
to a high level relative to steers and
the, buying side is expected to endeavor
to equalize the price basis at the first
opportunity. The delayed movement Of
southern grass stuff Is playing into
the hands Of sellers.
Light runs west this week and a
smaller crop locally than came week
ago has been chief force behind the de-
mand and a generally higher price
level is now noted for good to choice
COWS and heifers compared with last
week. the bulk showing advances on
Thursday OF lO@15c over last week.
Common and medium classes. however,
were quoted only steady. Holstein cows
however, on the Gamer and cutter Or
der, are meeting poor favor.
STOCkERs AND FEEDERS.
The legarthy that marked buyers
action in the beef steer trade did not
extend to the stocker and feeder mar
ket. Supply Of the latter classes was
OF only fair volume and demand for
grazing stock was of an insistent char
acter. Everything in the stocker line
cleared on an active higher basis 1O@
15c advance over Monday applying TO
the bulk of the supply Of stockers and
thin 500 to 1000 Id steers, and prices
for the rank and file Of the offerings
were on a new record basis. The ad-
vance carried lot Of stuff up to full
Csc higher basis than the close last
week Heavy, fleshy feeders did not
meet the same insistent call shown Tor
other classes but there was decent
demand for them at strong prices,
though they did not show the full ad-
vance over last week credited 10
stocker stuff Country buyers were nu-
merous and they were forced to walt
around for dealers purchases to be
yarded and sorted UP in the stocker
division, pretty close clean up hay
ing been effected on Tuesday. Demand
conferred very largely on the 500 ID and
under classes, but everything sold to
advantage. Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky
and the Virginias were we'll represent
ed in the trade, and there was fair call
from Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois ana
other sections. Reports from all quar-
tiers included excellent grazing condi-
ton. and despite the high level Of the
market, buyers went to the offerings.
Demand is outrunning supply, but
that is a situation which has prevailed
for some weeks past Shortage OF feed :
err and stock steers, both east and
west. and the good condition Of pas
lures is creating a strong inquiry at
market, in spite Of high prices, though
there is lot Of fear expressed by some
buyers that fat cattle prices will not
rule high enough to afford good profit
in feeding steers on basis Of current
iiiSH 'SSoso'
Missourians are about the only pes
simistic feeders on the map just now.
Prof. H. o. Allison, in charge OF expert :
mental feeding at the Missouri agricul-
tural station, says cattlemen in that
state have had bad season since their
corn and silage were both Of poor
quality and corn cost them higher than
feeders in other states. They lost a
considerable amount of money feeding
cattle in most instances, and this sea-
son. with thin stuff costing higher than
ever, he says, there Is a general dispo-
sition to- et the light cattle alone. For
done a lot to scare out many Mis-
sourians.
Supply Of bulls this week has scarce
Nv filled the demand, eastern orders be-
ing only partially cared for and every
body being in the trade for few. Both
the butcher and bologna grades have
had good action and prices are up Is
020c. A few selects have sold above
$7.75 this week to 50.
Little or no strength prevailed in the
Gamer and cutter trade with no sup
port from packers as has been the case
for some time past. Arrivals are just
about even with the demand.
Calf Prices Boosted.
The calf market this week bears a
more healthy tone and prices In gen.
eral have recovered to point where
the majority of sales are above $500.
The extreme top for primes this week
reached $40, the best for some weeks
past. Good grazing everywhere has
caused a great demand for stock calves
at prices largely s7.50@s and fancy
grade up to $3.50. The bulk cleared
through this channel at prices consid-