Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-28
LIVE STOCK PRICES
REACH HIGH MARK
Farmer Fails to Benefit from
Sharp Increase in
Values.
BY FRANK /. WELLER,
Associated Press Farm Editor.


The parade of choice carcass beef
back to practically the seasons high
mark has meant little to the farmer
who supplies the bulk of the Nations
meat.
Strictly good and near choice long
yearlings brought 50 to $3.50 at Chicago
on some sessions this week, but grass
steers. now the bulk of cattle receipts,
turned S3.25 to $3.75 at Kansas City,
meaning that to 5 cents pound is
the best the average farmer can get
for beef cattle at this time OF the year.
There was a scarcity OF fed steers
and yearlings, and the price on these
kinds advanced IS to SO cents at Kan
sas City, most fed offerings going at 81
to $3.50. A similar advance obtained
at Omaha, where there was late week
end top of 1850. East st. Louis paid
top of $3.50 on yearlings and 1886 on
heavies. while Westerns sold as low as
81 to $40. The top on latter kinds
was $5.75.
Market Improves.
All in all, Chicago had a much bet
ter market than last week. Shipped
demand showed improvement following
the passing of the Jewish holidays, the
dressed market reacted upward on the
better grades of beef, competition pc
tween large and small killers for light
cattle became more pronounced and
there was decided hunger for strictly
Crain-fed steers of all weights, even
though buyers preferred cattle scaling
either 1,2O0 pounds upward or year
lings averaging 800 pounds downward.
BY far the big end OF the steer crop
comprised long yearlings and ngnt
steers, and as the week wore on TINS
H.. aIAAN fymV "a
advantage of good to choice onerlngs
scaling 900 to HOO pounds.
In the dressed trade beef moved up
80 cents to 81 at New York, and q
steady to 81 higher market obtained at
Chicago.
A liberal supply of replacement cattle
Of all grades and representative welgnts
created a buyers market at Chicago,
and finishers saved about Is cents.
Hogs ranged from steady on heavy
butchers to as much as 35 cents or
more lower on underweights at Chicago
as shippers became relatively inactive.
Eastern fresh pork markets were slow,
and there was a substantial increase In
weights below zoo pounds. The per-
centaqe of packing sows also has
dwindled, less than 20 per cent Of the
run on some sessions consisting Of sows.
The fact that the supply OF UNDER
weights continues large, despite their
relatively low position, has prompted
considerable comment, but most trade
members lay it to forced liquidation.
Receipts of hogs were $1,000 head
heavier this week around the market
circuit The supply was moderate ut
Kansas City, but the weaker undertone
turned in new low levels for the year,
as prices slid on IS to 40 cents for, the
week. Shipping demand was narrow
and big packers were bearish.
Demand Smaller.
Narrow demand was feature ut
Omaha, and prices, popularity said TO
be the lowest in IS years, went to levels
untouched since the first two months
Of 1908. :
Earlier events of the week were over
sl1adowed at Chicago by the late Is to
so cent bulge in fat lamb prices. The
upturn, seemingly unwarranted, came
out of clear sky. Continued large re-
ceipts and an unsatisfactory dressed
market pointed to opposite trends. Elk
PLANTATION, however, lay In the fact that
the weeks run was the most unSatls-
factory in point Of quality this season.
Practically all grades Of lambs nm
jsted Is to so cents higher than a week
ago, as small killers found it increas-
ingly hard at Chicago to I'LL orders
except at higher prices.
At first Kansas City paid So for fat
lambs, the lowest since 1916. but choice
range lambs worked back to $3.50. The
price of slaughter lambs advanced at
Omaha on curtailed receipts, and East
St. Louis marked up IS to 80 cent
advance.
The sharply increased supply Of thin
range lambs thrown on the Chicago
market looked unwieldy at first, but
active country buying made short work
Of the crop the moment prices were
lowered, actual declines figuring IS
cents and more.