Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-01-08
ANNUAL LIVESTOCK
Market REPORT

showed Il substantial increase over
during the greater part of the year
there was no surplus. and the demand
held active. Tie high prices at
tracted shipments ami in some cas-
es stock WAS shipped because OF vie
high cost of feed. and the difficulty
in obtaining it, especially after the
restrictions we're placed upon the
manufacture OF -four, eliminating the
by-productS that are generally
used as feed for cattle. The high
prices FOR livestock have been offse,
to a large extent by the higher cost
Of production. but i is probab Bile that
as whole the raiserA have made
larger profits than usual.
Although the war is over. very
large number of our men are still IN
Europe. and for some time TO come
we will be called upon 10 snip food
stuffs abroad for their use. Norma.
conditions, therefore, are not likely
tn be restored for some months, II
least. and perhaps for q longer per-
cd The scarcity Of labor. which has
been serious factor for stock -raisers
during the past year, promises to con-
rinue during the greater part of the
! current wear, and there is little pres
emf indication that costs of produc
hon will decline appreciahly Prices
Of livestock have declined somewhat
during the past few months. hut are
still we'll above the level OF previous
years.
Receipts II cattle ,inc,u,iing mich
cows n this market during the past
wear we're the heaviest reported
since 1911. and about 40 per cent hea
".er than IL l9lT. AZ the beginning Of
The year fancy cattle We're selling
1T from II to - cents. with choice
reavv cows from 3 to 3 II cents
f, and bclognas and canners from IL
! TO- ; cents. The market advanced
quite steadily, and the high prices
for the wear We're recorded in June
! when choice heavy steers anu oxen
sold ut : IL no 70 Is cents, with
: some few extras higher; choice heavy
cows At II 20 Il cents: and bologna
and raIner cows from s 20 - cents.
/ The demand .pr caIuer and bolognas
. a. that time vas active. and these
animals sold higher than the best
cattle brought only a few years ago
: Later the supply Increased, and the
demand became less urgent, 30 tina,
4. the close Of the year the market
/ ranged frnm about IL tn ) u
cents. The high prices FOR beef COWS.
ana lie unfav0rable conditions that
prevailed in the mich COW narke ct
much Of the time. led to the sale for
beef OF many in0ws that normally
would have been retained for mixers
Calves were in larger supply than
for At least ten years previous. While
prices IT beef cattle were Such tia.
The raising Of calves 70 maturity
might have appeared profitable. the
feed conditions prohibited this to any
increased extent. and farmers mar
keted their calves even earlier than
usual. Prices for calves were high.
rs compared with previous years.
and the market was steady, there
! having been little iuctuation during
the year. The general range for
good quality veals was from u to
IT cents. but fancy calves. above the
average in quality, brought more than
/ the latter figure. A large number OF
small calves vas sold, and there was
little attempt TO enforce the laws
regarding the marketing Of young
calves. The demand for meat was
too urgent to permit and reduction,
and the calves would have been
killed for their skins if not for their
, meat.
A. compared with 1917 the receipts
Of sheep ana lambs were heavy, but
they were we'll below the figures Of
previous yenrs. Only a very small
percentage Of the receipts came 20
the yards, the greater part going
r:irectiy TO the slaughter houses The
market showed little iuctuation
early N the year, but later there was
Il sharp advance. and whereas sheep
had sold ut 5 to 3 cents and lambs
at 70 Il cents. sheep advanced TO
9 10 IS cents. and lambs to Is to -
cents. There has been some reaction
from these levels. but prices are still
we'll above the level Of the first of
the year. Sheep paisers have ra-
ceived high prices for the wool. 80
! that there has been less disposition
to sell the sheep Canada has ship
ped a considerable number If sheep
. TO this market.
The market for hogs has been
strong and active throughout the
past year. and the receipts have been
heavier than in any previous wear
SINCE 1908. Western hogs comprised
the greater part Of the receipts. Elk
ports cf hog products were very hea-
Wy throughout the year. At the be-
ginning If 1918 hogs were selling at
Is i-2 70 II cents. and dressed hogs
ut y u to - cents. The market
'!e!d firm, but with only moderate
advance. until about the middle Of
he year, when prices advanced quite
sharply. The high level af the year
was attained in september, when live
hogs sold at 20 to = cents, and dres-
sed hogs at "a - to g cents. These
prices are higher than for many
years. and probably are tho highest
since the Civil War Tie market has
declined several cents since then.
hut continues strong and active.
There has been practically no change
now for some weeks.
Mich COW trade on the whole han