Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-06-09
latter figure Is

very narrow and the latter figure is
choice flcshy selected kind Is quoted UP
to s. or a little higher. Killers are out
bidding feeder buyers however. with
| reg ularity on the bulk Of the feeder
grades. Some of the best stock steers,
high qualified yearlings and calves
arc selling up to $s@s.25, and $500
100 is taking the bulk Of the fairly
desirable to very good kinds and a
plain sort Of light stockers Gs we'll as
some rough low-gcade feeders with
W oiSht are ranging down to $7.25@7.4O
with common and ordinary stocker
kind on down to S6.5007 and some
trashy knotheads lower.
Rains during the week have visited
some sections that have been reported
dry, but have failed to bring out a
good general call, many prospective
buyers holding of in the view that the
prices are still too high for safe in
vestment. The weeks supply Of thin
young cattle has been among the light
est for number Of weeks past and as
long as pasturage conditions remain
generally good, continuance of light
supplies is anticipated.
Stock COWS and heifers are selling a
little better than the mean close last
week, due to scarcity rather than
broadening of demand. Bulk Of the
stocker che stuff Is sill about 25c low
Ell, however, than the ligh timo. Best
young stock heirers Of light weight are
selling up to $7.25@7.50, but the bulk
consists Of medium and ploincr grades
going downward from 81. Most Of the
stock cows Of fairly good to choice
class are making $606.40. with a few
reaching $3.50.
Sentiment Not BuIiish.
The course Of the ca tito market this
week has not enganucred any bullish
sentiment regarding the summer mar
ket. Specialties have become SO scarce
that they seem to be able to chart their
own course, and 1t is probable that aft
er the middle Of this month prime
heavy cattle will be in class by them
selves.
The situation, however, does not
warrant expectancy Of recovery OF the
recent loss on medium, and pretty
good steers which have been coming in
such profusion for the last six weeks
Prices are around SOC per cwt higher
than a year ago. when industrial con-
ditions were decidedly better.
A conviction prevails that when
liquidation Of the present crop of L.
5000 400 lb corn-fed cattle has been
completed that stuff will become
scarce. There is evidence Of a gap In
supply during July and August, and If
good pasture conditions continue Meth
er grass nor cornfed cattle will be
plentiful during that period.
Texas Run Light.
The southwestern movement is still
very light and Texas growers avow an
intention to hold on. Word comes from
down in that country that cattle own
ers are Indifferent whether they sell OF
not, for the reason that they have
more grass than they can use. There is
also a prospect Of big forage crop in
Texas, the outlook for Kaffin corn be-
ing excellent, consequently light cattle
are good thing to hold. The May run
Of southern stuff was light and that
June will fill the quarantine pens at
southwestern markets is considered
improbable.
Despite the recent decline in fat cat
tie retail beef prices are being well
maintained. Some Argentina beef has
been sold both here and in Omaha the
past week and some more Is expected
Ribs Of Argentina cattle were selling
wholesale In Chicago last week at &c
per pound, but it is alleged that this
stuff went to the consumer as native
product and that the buyer got no ben
eft from the lower prices.
The eastern market is still congested
with last weeks big COB Of Argentina
stuff, but this weeks imports will be
light and as importers are distributing
the foreign package all over the coun-
try 1t will probably be out of the way
in few days. At this advanced season
holding chilled beef for any length OF
time Is impossible, although the chill
room furnishes a convenient receptacle
for frozen product pending defrosting
or forcing into consumptive channels
To what extent foreign beef Is ham
pering distribution Of the fresh dressed
product is problematical, but every
pound of it is handicap.
May receipts Of cattle at western
markets present q straight COLUMN OF
deficiencies At the six markets the
decrease compared with last year is
61.1S7 head, of which 10000 is credited
to Kansas City, 5000 to st, Joseph
and 5000 to Omaha. The big decrease
at Kansas City and st. Joseph indi.
Gates how scarce corn-fed cattle are In
tho southwest. The five months run at
these markets exhibited q shortage OF
26S,OOO compared with last year. Kan
sas City leads with nearly $4,000, ST
Louis being second with $4,000, and
Chicago third with a little over $4,000
Omaha decreased less than 10000, but
there is shortage of $4,000 at st. JOS
eph The combined shortage at st.
Joseph and Kansas City is about 49,
900 which is abnormal. and due to the
short corn crop in Kansas and Mis-
souri,, but the figures ore eloquent OF
beef scarcity. condition that Is not
to be remedied in a hurry.
Chicago's total cattle receipts this
week were 1890, unofficial, against
$4,000 estimated to arrive and compar-
ed with 45,277 for the, corresponding
period year ago. The top for prime
natives at 1926 is just soc higher than