Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-29
LIVE STOCK PRICES
IN SHARP ASCENT
Cattle Market Shows Sur.
prising vigor, EquaIing
Seasons High Mark.
BY FRANK I. WELLER.
Associated Press Farm Editor.

Associated Press Farm Editor.
The runaway cattle market and the
sharp price advances made by hogs
and sheep during Thanksgiving week,
when animal values usually sag in favor
Of poultry, has given the live stock In.
dustry one Of its biggest surprises IN
years.
The top on cattle is right back at
the seasons high time, scored q month
or so ago.. Hogs topped at $3.50, az
compared with $8.15 o week ago-the
lowest top since Iceland the general
run averaged 10 to 20 cents above last
weeks prices. Compared with last
week, fat lambs and yearlings advanced
IS cents to 81, and feeders were strong
to IS cents higher.
Dressed Meat Higher.
Wholesale prices on dressed meat I'd.
vanced so cents to 81 for steer at New
York, 50 for veal, 81 for calf, So for
lamb. 81 for mutton and So to So for
pork loins.
Probably the most significant thing
IN the wild and unexpected market was
the advance Of u to $3.50 on heavy
steers, although there was almost Is
much speed in the yearling and light
steer trade These heavies have been
1ndulging in extremes for months, re-
ceipts slowing down almost to a stand
Still when prices receded and pouring
back the moment supply abridgment
offered the slightest upturn.
Originally they were taken to the feed
lots for the July and August markets.
Low prices at that time caused many Of
them to be held back. The longer they
were held the more feed they ate and
the heavier they became. When prices
still failed to improve in September,
Stockmen began to put these long-feds
on the market, with the resulting upa
and downs that have kept each sSic.
ceeding weeks cattle market in doubt.
NOW, 1t appears the bulk Of the heav-
les has been marketed. Big WEIGHTS
sealing 1900 pounds upward were al.
most totally absent this week. If this
temperamental influence has been re-
moved as indicated, a more stable price
situation may be expected.
Immediate Trend.
Much depends. however, on the i'm
mediate trend of values. This is sttll
the Cleanup" season when farmerH
market everything they don't want 10
feed through the Winter, and II prices
are not satisfactory farmers may keep
on feeding steers that are now ready
Tor market and continue indefinitely the
supply of heavy stock.
After all, it must not be overlooked
that the weeks quality Of cattle was
due largely to the influx Of stock from
the International Live Stock Exposition
at Chicago. Counting out those AMI
mails, there was not so much beef ton.
mage in the run.
In other words, the commercial run
was below trade requirements, which,
added to the fact that last weeks run
was small, makes two weeks supply Of
relatively small dimensions. Last weeks
market had been held down by cur
tailed Eastern shipper demand, but this
outside demand, largely kosher, became
urgent during the week under review,
increasing Is to 90 per cent over last
week.
The urgency Of this shipper demand
confirms recent estimates that beef
coolers and hang rails may not be 20
overcrowded with beef, as the demand
for beef was small and that the moment
demand strengthens there viii be rush
for live cattle Of all weights and de-
scriptions.
Advances in beef have not kept pacS
with the weeks uptl1rn In live prices,
so despite all the bullishness the live
side of the market still is in tech
nically weak position.
CdJIlC W PICK
up after November, reach q peak IN
December and fall OF slightly in Feb
ruary when marketing of Spring and
Summer fed stock becomes the heaviest.
The probable scarcity Of good cattle this
year, due to drought and business de-
preston, may delay the weak period
somewhat.
Hog Prices.
Unless heavy runs in the next few
weeks beat prices back down the low
time for hogs seems to have been
passed Curtailed receipts and expand
ing shipper demand have further ina
proved the advantage gained last week.
There was a drop of almost 100000
this week at IL principal markets.
The low time for hogs is expected be-
tween Thanksgiving and Christmas.
There are many exceptions, however
Last year was one Of them. The low
point then was reached during the see
ond and third weeks Of November
The surprising feature Of the fat lamb
trade Is its inherent strength. Ship
pers as well and local killers bought
actively on every session this week In
the face Of expanded receipts on II
markets.