Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-12
LAMB PRICES ARE HIGHEST OF
THE YEAR; SHEEP ALSO
SHARE IN WEEKS GAIN
HOG RECEIPTS DROP
Total Arrivals Of Swine for Past Six
Days Record Smallest Run at
Chicago in the Past
Four Years.

Lamb trade at the Union SlOck
Yards this week was conducted on the
highest basis of the year 1910 being
paid for westerns in the fleece and a
dollar less for shorn stock. Yearlings
have scored an advance of 35@5Oc.
while matured muttons were strong to
25@35c above the close week ago.
Hogs, with better shipping demand
and a more active competition from To-
cal packers due to small receipts have
advanced 25 to- 35c from the low point
Of last week and Csc from the close last
Saturday Chicago arrivals this week
unofficially total 81 900 head, the small
est receipts since 1910 and the price
difference about $1.15 under the cor
responding week four years ago.
Cattle trade while starting out in a
flourishing manner on Monday, the
week END trading was on a basis Of a
week ago for most cattle, the advance
Of Monday having been wiped out.
Stocker trade however, was done In the
mid-week at the best prices in the
trade history.
Sentiment Bearish.
That the hog market will work along
through May on an 8@Shc basic Is the
opinion Of most people at the stock
yards. Provision stocks and sentiment
are both against materially higher
prices while there are not enough hogs
In the country to warrant prediction Of
a severe break For the next two weeks
the country will be tho rule, bit the
usual May run will be out loose there
after, and while it may not prove Of
seasonable proportions there will be
enough to go around.
Shortage, compared with last year. at
the six principal markets since Janu-
airy / is now about 100000 head, OF
which 100000 isJat Chicago and Kan
sas City, and by July l the deficiency
will be even more conspicuous with
the present stagnation in industrial
circles less product Is needed to go
around, and every scrap Of sentiment
gleanable at the stock yards Is adverse
to higher prices, but no opinion that
common cost will go below So per cwt.
can be detected.
Possibly because nearly everybody in
the trade has been predicting an SC hog
market that event will not be recorded,
but no bullish sentiment can be de-
tected in commission circles.
Current supply is unusually light for
this season, but this is not to be con-
struea as meaning that the country is
out Of hogs. The breal. last week and
activity with spring work insured light
loading in the country. but the prin-
cipal Bear argument Is that product Is
net selling. The break last week carried
the common price down to $3.50, but
slight reaction ensued, as eastern buy
ers must have a few hogs daily. Local
packers are Indifferent as to whether or
not they acquire n single hog in excess
OF the few they need to supply fresh
meat demand. Reduction OF provision
stocks will be a necessary prelude to
higher hog prices.
Provision trade is the dullest affair
imaginable. One reason probably is
that cost to consumers has been cut to
the extent of p picayune. Pork loins
are being retailed at 23@25 cents per
pound and this naturally inspires econ
o..1y. Southern trade has shown some
Improvement, but is not of seasonable
volume and Europe is not buying lard
in normal quantities although on the
recent price dips some stuff has been
taken on that account. The market has
not yet settled down to its regular
summer stride and probable will not
acquire gait until the size of the
May hog run has been developed Pro-
duct has been gradually dropping to a
merchandising level however, and
should hogs go to an s-cent basis mid
dlemcn would have incentive to fill
their shelves. The principal trouble
with the provision market is general
and pronounced Learish in sentiment.
The top this week at ss.67k is 12kc
higher than for the same period a year
aco while the receipts at $1,000 l.; about
10000 short Of the supply for that
corresponding week.
Mid week Trade Dull.
The mid-wcek trace in the cattle
market proved disappointment as re-
ceipts did not warrant a reversal of
Mondays market. Steer trade turned
dull on light fresh supply and in
spots 10000 declines are seen from