Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-09
FED STEER VALUES
SHARPLY INFLATED
Prices on Other Grades Are
Mixed-Hog Quotations
Show Gain.
BY FRANK /. WELLER,
Associated Press Farm Editor.

The current imitation on fed steers
seems to have gone beyond all bounds.
Never in trade history has the market
on slaughter steers been more uneven,
unstable and confusing to buyers and
sellers alike.
It presents the curious spectacle Of
one lone and very sparse class of steers
averaging SO per 100 pounds above the
average cost of that great bulk on which
the Nation depends for beef
Strictly good and choice offerings.
now as scarce as the proverbial hens
teeth, aided another IS to SO cents to
the steady upturn in this bracket to
top at $l2 for the week in Chicago
figure the trade would have CAPPED
at last Summer. The scramble on East
crn account for weight and high finish
regardless Of weight sent practically
everything Of that nature to SIPS
and up.
Average Price So.
Right alongside, the bulk of slaughter
steers merely f1oundered around some
where between 81 on the low end and
$10.50. which was paid for some of the
best shortfeds with weight. The ave-
rage price was only SO, exclusive of
Western grasSers, which sold from 81
to $3.50
1t just shows how far shipper COM
petition has aggravated the uneven
ness OF the general trade since 1t got
behind granted steers a month ago.
Even on what Is termed a generally
steady market, similar steers frequently
sell far part. The lower grades con-
tinue more in line with hogs, lambs
and other agricultural commodities.
The average cost of hogs at Chicago Is
around $4.65 and lambs for the week
are expected to average about S5.75.
For outstanding cattle, however, the
end did not appear to be in sight even
after the top had reached $l2 and
some believed they would keep on ad-
vancing until the light supply was COM
pletely absorbed
There is no doubt toppy cattle are in
f1uencing the lower brackets to a de-
gree. Little grassy and shortfed butcher
helfers in instances showed a gain of
so cents, while fat cows worked rs cents
to 81 above the low time last week
They could do that. however, and still
not be anywhere. The rank and file of
the run Is made up of shortfed steers
liberal grass offerings and stock hastily
warmed up with little grain.
Apparently the country is not Ching
to be stampeded by the relatively fine
showing of the market leaders as long
as the most of the stock it has to sell
IS dragging. 1t refused point blank to
follow the upturn in stockers and feed
ers and insisted on buying at least the
lower grades close to last weeks prices,
which were the lowest of the season.
Hog Market.
A little light has crept into the hog
market after prices dragged along with
no net change from the sharp drop late
last week. Chicago advanced about 10
cents on Friday. Receipts at the IL
markets were Is per cent lower than q
week ago and 4 per cent less than for
the same week last year. Fewer under
weights arrived. Increased shipping de-
mand counterbalanced the weakening
influence of low fresh pork prices. The
latter may be benefited in the shift
to cooler weather.
There now seems to be tendency
practicable. Packing sow receipts, too,
have diminished in response to lower
prices, but the cut seems not to have
stimulated demand because of the in
crease in medium weight hogs.
At least one optimistic feature at
tends the sheep and lamb market. The
price drop has curtailed receipts and
the late trend Of values was upward at
Chicago.
The stagnation which followed the
early spirited advance was caused by
heavy receipts, those at Chicago being
equal to the seasons record, and by
warm weather and other conditions
which took elasticity from the dressed
outlet thin range lambs continued too
numerous for trade requirements and
in addition the corn belt started to
market fed westerns in earnest.