Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-02-17
LIVE STOCK REVIEW
OF THE PAST WEEK


market Of the forepart of the week
I, which brought about declines Of full
| quarter and a big leftover supply on
Fridays market made 1t easy sailing
for the we'll executed bear raid on
prices. The closing prices for the week
are under last weeks level.
No decided change is noted in prices
: for prime cattle. The top for the week
is 1855 for a load of Angus steers. De-
clines Of 10GD15c for the week are con-
ceding on anything below the $3.50
level. Choice heavy cattle are wanted
at the Union Stock yards, but the
short fed variety continue as bad SELL
ers.
local conditions in the sheep and
lamb market have changed for the
better regardless Of adverse conditions
! in the eastern markets. Top for the
week on prime lambs is IS though no
great number are registered as selling
at that mark, the bulk being nearer
E.35@7.S5. .h..
Cold Weather Would Help.
Beef vendors assert that the cold
snap has not been of sufficient duration
to create broad demand for
beef. but admit that distribution is i'm
proving. The trade is disappointed at
the action Of the market this week, so
far as medium and common grades are
concerned. What the trade needs is a
SCSSdIlOil VI Tie run VI HleululH dlu
common stuff. A belief exists at mar
ket centers that phtting on weight will
be profitable, as demand for well-con
ditioned cattle is strengthening. The
manner in which short fed stuff has
| been liquidated all winter certainly
warrants expectancy Of a good late
| winter and spring market for bullocks
| capable Of decent dressing perform
ance
Buyers explained their aversion to
short fed steers selling below $s.25 to
poor dressing performances by such
cattle bought on Monday. The sheets
| came back with bad showing, such
cattle looking high on the hooks COM
pared with what the $S.50@9.50 grades
are costing.
One factor having some general in
fluence in checking growth of beef de-
mand. which ordinarily would be had
by reason of the continued cold wealth
er, is the Argentine beef crop in the
east, and while it is not a big supply
and the total imports from Argentina
thus far in the year have been equal
to less than $1,000 cattle, the effect is
not for the good Of the domestic de-
mand, as packer buyers are free to
admit.
Butcher Stock.
Considerable irregularity in the stock
trade, demand being limited to the
right good to choice kinds. These
cleared steady and were free sellers but
sluggish trade was had in the med
ium stuff and there was also small
outlet for common kinds, due to short
trading by the shippers and speculative
buyers. Packers showed Partially to
cows of value above IS and the fat
heifers landing around 81 and higher.
Clearance was made only after some |,
hard pulling by sellers, and in view Of
the cold weather over the country,
which Is always looked upon IS an in
centive to strong beef trade, it is a |
market now not to the likkg Of selling !
interests.
Little Change in Week.
Market for the bulk of COWS and heif-
ers shows no material betterment over
a week ago, a little stronger price basis (
early this week having since been lost.
In fact, some Of the poorer grade COWS
and common light heifers. especially
stock and feeder heifers, now show a
little recession in costs from last week
The upward price movement in
bologna bulls inaugurated last week,
continued it's huoyant tendencies until
the Thursday market when declines Of
10015c were registered against all
grades. The top Of $7.75 has been paid
for choice prime beef bulls and prices
in general with the Thursday declines
taken in are above the close last week
on most classes
In the Gamer and cutter class steady
prices prevail though little if any
change either way Is noted. The out
let continue fair though receipts are
light in proportion to the total cattle
run. 49,.
Stock and feeding cattle trade Is in
a bad state of depression following the
healthy markets observed during the
past three weeks. Arrivals for the week
have been entirely too large for yard
dealers to dispose Of and only the
choice sorts were given attention. The
market closed with declines Of 100
15c under Mondays best prices and
15@25c under last weeks level with
some instances of still greater declines
On medium and common grades. Severe
weather has had a tendency to check
the demand for feeders. Top for the
week is IS.
Supplies of calves this week have
been lighter than week ago and +,
though supplies are sufficient for i'm
week are shade better with S10.75 as
top for prime feeders. Outsiders ap-
pear to be paying the top prices at the
ocal yards while packers have pegged
The market at the 10 cent level. !,
Eastern markets have been some
what lighter this week, the break
having repressed recent desire to un-
DAD and the Canadian situation was
improved. A week ago cattle were
practically unstable at Toronto and {
Montreal and were being reloaded for I
American markets, but the decline has {
leased although Toronto reported cat '
lie there yesterday that had been lying
around g. week, begging bids. j
A little better shipping outlet this ,,
week has been saving factor in the
rade, but eastern fed stuff, mostly me-
1ium in grade, while not moving as
Freely as last week, was still numerous
enough to hold in check a lot Of ship {
Der competition in the middle quality !
,attle. ..m
A lot Of uneasiness regarding the flu
ure shown by feeders and owners Of y
short fed stuff doubtless was reason for I
generous shipping this week, but these
classes hit market at a time when con-
iderably smaller supplies would suffice !.
o fill actual trade needs. ...
Receipts this week, including calves
otals $500, against 10000 estimated
or the week, compared with ATOP last
week and 5O.332 last year for the samei