Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-23
LIVE STOCK PRICES
IN UNEVEN TREND
Choice Steers Are Only Class
Holding Steady During
the Week.
BY FRANK /. WELLER,
Associated Press Farm Editor.

Very choice steers were the only live
stock to hold up under the unseasonaoly
warm weather of the last week. They
were so scarce and the Eastern demand
for them so strong that the price spread
between best offerings and the end OF
the run attained the staggering inquire
Of 50.
Strictly granted steers and yearlings
gained rs to so cents for seasons high
the extremely good top Of $12 is week
ago. Although common kinds were
strong to Is cents higher because OF
the stimulating influence Of keen COM
petition for prime beef, bottom grades
fell as low as 1918.
Heavies Lead Advance.
The fact that heavies led the advance
was due to their scarcity, but part OF
the gain as we'll as the upturn in COM
mon steers and the strong to 25-centS
higher market for cows and heifers was
attributed to the approach Of the inter-
national live stock show early in De-
cember. Stock has been held back Tor
the show, whereas the ordinary demand
continued.
At Kansas City best-grade steers were
scarce and prices held steady, while
shortfeds met slow trade and STEADY
weaker
S5.25 to $3.50 A carload of grand
champion steers from the American
royal live stock show sold for $l5.25,
or 1925 above the weeks top for the
open market.
Medium to good steers formed the
bulk of offerings at Omaha, where
prices finally worked IS cents higher:
Heavies gained so cents for a top Of
$3.50, the nearest approach to Chicago
Of any market on the circuit. Year
lings topped at $12.35, chiefly because
there had been a stock shSw which sent
upper classes to the open market.
East st. Louis had a break OF 20
cents in almost all steer classes except
the very best. The bulk sold at $3.50
to $3.50, while fat steers brought as
high as SO and topped at $1,000.
Heavies scored SO.
A decrease Of $4,000 head in receipts
probably is the real reason cattle prices
in the lower brakets dropped no more
than they did. The nearness OF the
holiday season turned more attention
to poultry in the dressed markets and
buyers of live stock carcasses held the
advantage over sellers.
The few loads Of show steers ana
lambs commanded premiums, but steer
meat generally lost so cents to $3.50
wholesale. Last weeks firm pork mar
ket fizzled and loins dropped 81 to 81.
Buyers were slow and cautious in New
York. Liberal supplies of beef brought
a gradual decline in prices and forces
sales caused concessions In less de-
sirable cuts. Cow meat was so cents
higher and mutton strong at Chicago.
Hog Receipts Gain.
An increase of 100000 head in hog
receipts, hot weather and a lower
dressed market carried hogs of IS to so
cents at Chicago to bring the average
cost for the week around $3.50, COM
pared to $492 last week-a new low for
the year. Top prices gradually worked
from $4.85 to $3.50. Omaha recorded
the narrowest price range Of the season
between lights and heavies, the bulk 60
ing at $4.25 to $40.
Fat lambs regained most Of the IS to
Is cents break at Chicago and Omaha,
closed about steady at East st. Louis,
but lost 20 to IS cents under pressure
at Kansas City. For the entire circuit
westerns and the bulk of fed lambs
went for $3.50 to 1925. Comebacks
made a top of $6.40 at Chicago, while
feeders generally sold for $4,25 to $4.75.