Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-10-13
GRASS Fed STOCK
REGAIN STANDARD
Of FORMER YEARS
State Report Says Cattle Situa-
ton on Upgrade With
Prices More Firm.
to The Tribune.

Spec1al TO Inc tribune.
Helena, Oct. 12.-Montana's famous
grass fed cattle are again back to their
old time standard, although they have
matured late, owing to the tardy hard
ening of the grass, according to the
report of the Montana Cooperative
Crop Reporting service. The report
adds that the late maturing of the
cattle, together with the hope of bet
ter market prices, has somewhat de-
layed the movements to the markets.
Car shortages have also delayed the
movements, the report said.
The cattle situation seems slightly
improved with good feed and slight
strengthening of prices, although cat
tlemen have faced several bad years
and the financial situation is generally
~dlscouraging. The movements out of
the state will be gagged by the ability
OF the growers to meet their obliga-
tons n it seems that cattle will be
sold close in many cases, which will
increase the movement to markets over
what it would naturally amount to.
Those well informed are of the opinion
that the movement will be about the
same as last year. The Montana Live
stock commission report the following
movements out of the state for past
years: 1921-147, 900; 1920-211, 900;
1919-641, 900: 191S-406, 900 and 1917
100000.
Local Prices Vary
Local prices vary greatly due to
grade and condition of cattle but as
most of the cattle are sold on the
Chicago and st. Paul markets, local
prices are not quoted in many cases.
The following prices are indicated by
the reports received: yearling steers,
S30M$36; two year old steers S4Om
$50; threes and tours $57@S75, while
fat steers have sold from ) to 6h
cents, with feeders and thin stuff
ranging from 3 to 5 cents. The western
movement Of Montana cattle was
heavier last year and early reports in
dicate that this will continue with som
steers going to Los Angeles. Stock
cows are selling from $50 to $50 with
fat cows bringing from 21A to 5 cents.
Canadian imports have been very
heavy through the ports of Scobey and
Sweet Grass, but yer half those en-
tering have gone On to market, the
rest being held in northern Montana.
Several sections report car shortages.
Sheep are generally In very good
condition, with those from high range
n extra good shape. Some of the lower
sheep ranges suffered from the hot
dry weather during September. Sheep
movements are from two to three
weeks later than usual due to the late
maturing Of the range, while some de-
lays are blamed on car shortages.
Sheep Prices Boom
Sheep prices are on q higher level
than n other agricultural product,
with a strong market and a heavy de-
mand. The lamb crop which is short
vas geenrally sold or contracted early
and some reports indicate that fully
so per cent of the crop was contracted
by September 10 at prices around 10
cents. The market has strengthened
and sales at from 10 to liz cents
are reported and at the close of the
month offers of II cents are reported
from Beaverhead county.
Young breeding ewes are much in
demand with prices ranging from So to
S11, while there has been some sales
Of old ewes. Prices on sheep and
lambs have covered a wide range due to
grade and condition. There is a strong
tendency to hold eve lambs for breed
ing purposes with many local demand
for breeding stock. There is a larger
percentage of old ewes than usual due
to the close selling Of eve lambs the
past three years. A great many feeder
lambs are going to Nebraska, Colorado
and other feeding sections, with fat
stuff going direct to market.