The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1912-1984, 1916-09-05
Cattle Market Unstable
Interesting Stock Letter Tells of
Western Markets Conditions

condition developed. Cattle could not
| be sold at declines of 75c to 81 per
cwt. compared with Monday. Buyers
advanced as reason shortage of la
Dor at packing houses and sporadic
strikes. A heavy run all around the
| market circle was a depresSin influ-
ence. Early this week they were
| avid bidders for stale steers at which
they could not be induced to look a
few days before and sharp reaction
| occurred. Hog values have been we'll
maintained at a slightly lower level
than the high point of the season
last week. In the sheephouse a heavy
supply of western lambs, contracted
for August delivery, has depressed
values of fat grades about S1.25 per
cwt. below the high spot early in
August.
About 100000 cattle reached west
srn markets last week and the sea-
sons beef roundup is now in full
swing. Kansas City received II, 900
and Chicago $4,000 cattle last week,
the resultant break checking the
movement. Packers are getting thou
sands of grass steers anywhere from
ST to So, purchases having taxed linn
tied killing facilities. Revision of
prices in downward direction has
ben drastic, but lower priced steers
have braved the ordeal better than
S9@$1O.00 grades on which the de-
cline last week was most severe Now
that the grass movement is we'll I'M
der way the market is expected to
acquire stride.
Values of western cattle did not
experience the sharp decline in ma
tives last week and the market is on
healthy basis at prices current
early last week and but slightly I'M
der the high point at the opening of
the season. This week the top cut of
the Heinrich cattle from Montana.
averaging 1884 pounds, sold at 50,
with the string at $3.50. The major
portion sold at S7.75 with tops at
$50. The first Matador consignment
of the season sold at $3.50 for the
dehorned tops and So for the rest.
Fat little Mexican cattle are getting
a good reception at S7@7.35. The
run is carrying practically no feeders
and little female stuff.
A sale of Washington yearling
breeding ewes at $40 during the week
indicates high point on the trade.
They went to Ohio. Good aged west
ern breeding ewes are on a $3.50
basis, the general price for native
yearlings being $3.50. Few feeding
wethers are available, one lot going
out this week at S6.75. Feeding year
lings are selling at $7.50@7.75, with
old ewes at $5@5.50. Killing year
lings have lost 25c during the week,
sheep having been out of line Year
lings are selling largely at $7.75@8,
wethers $7.50@7.60 and ewes 1913
@7.O0.
heifers at S6.25@7.5O constitute the
bulk of current supply. Cornfed
grades and Gamer stock does not eX-
perience these violent changes. There
is a broad demand for Gamers at
4.25@4.60. Bulls had sharp break
late last week, but have recovered
25@35c of the loss, bologna stuff
selling largely at S5.85@6.35. Veals
have lost soc per cwt. in a week
few picked punches selling at S12,
with the bulk at S11.50@11.75,
heavies around ST and middle
weights at $3.50.
After the pyrotechnical display of
last week The hog market has drop
ped into a rut. Fluctuations have been
narrow and the spread between COM
mon and good hogs shows a DISPOSE
ton to widen. Considering the alti-
tude OF the market this spread has
been narrow. This week it is 5000
@10.60 market on packing grades,
with shipper and bacon specialties at
S11@11.25. Trash is selling around
SO and grade of mixed hogs with
a shipper top anywhere from $40 80
to S11. Quality is steadily deterior-
ating, indicating that county, ship
pers are experiencing difficulty in
maintaining a marketward movement
that is sufficient to meet killers
needs. Pigs are scarce, but the sea-
on is at hand when the market is
usually filled with Young stuff.
Washington, Idaho and Montana
have contributed to a heavy supply
of lambs during the past week, caus-
ing a decline of 40c in westerns and
65@85c in natives, the latter being
poor lot. From the high point at
S11.50 two weeks back top western
lambs dropped this weeks to $10.45.
In the case of natives the SO quota
ton was eliminated, S9.25@9.75
taking the bulk. Western stuff has
been lightly sorted, packers prefer
ring to buy in straight bands, taking
off the feeder end themselves. The
heavy run has been due to acceptance
by spectators of stock contracted for
August delivery, much of it having
been run prematurely in apprehen-
ion of a railroad strike. This week
S10.25 has been a common price Off
good western Lambs
Feeding lambs sold at Omaha dur
ing the past week at $1,000 and this
week it has been S10@1O.25 market
there, Iowa being heavy purchaser.
A light class of western lambs is avail
able at Omaha than Chicago, which
warrants higher prices. The Chicago
market is on $10@10.10 basis. The
spread between fat and feeding
lambs has been practically wiped out.
A year ago Omaha's top was $3.50
in August and veterans in the bust
ness refused to buy on that basis.
In August, 1914, the Chicago top
on feeding lambs was $40, rec
ord up to that time. In August, 1901,
IIthe Chicago top on feeding lambs was
S4.25, prices having more than
doubled during the 15-year peroid.
Good staple woods are firm, but in
ferior grades show declining ten
dency. Dealers show no disposition to
shade prices on qualified grades.