Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-02
Of STEERS
CONTINUE UPWARD
Fine Quality Beet Sells rs
to so Cents Higher at
Chicago.
BY FRANK I. WELLER,
Associated Press Farm Editor.

The ever-increasing spread between
the cream of the beef cattle offerings
and the ordinary run is packed with
potentiality.
For another week now declining num-
bers and the competition Of shippers
for choice meat had boosted the price
Of the fine, fat fed steers and yearlings.
The gain of IS to so cents sent the
top at Chicago to Sll.50, new high
mark for the season.
In the meantime, however, common
and medium kinds continued down at
the same rate of speeds TO so cents.
Even the upward action of toppy stock
could not pull the in-between grades
more than 81 above the low spot, al
though buyers scrambled for everything
that would sell from SO up.
CRASHED Cattle.
Whereas as strictly dry-lot steers and
yearlings galloped along at Sll to Sll.50,
the heaviest and best of the shortfeds
wouldn't bring more than $3.50 to $40.
GrasSers and ordinary short-fedS sold as
low as $475 TO ST.
It is this swarm of grass-fed cattle
that is supplying the bulk of receipts,
and these steers that have a little grain
that are predominating the dry-lot Of
ferings.
The dressed market has been a repe-
tition of that week ago. the wholesale
price on top grades of beef holding
steady and the lower ones losing so
cents to $3.50 in direct keeping with
the action of the live market.
All other markets experienced about
the same trend in cattle as Chicago,
where the lower grades dragged new
lows at one time, and cows and heifers,
losing Is 20 40 cents. were at the low
est level Of the season when trading
closed.
omaha and Kansas City advanced
the market leaders rs cents for a top
of $lo.65 at the latter and a running
price of $825 to 5000. Shortfeds sold
for $3.50 to $3.50 and grasSers for 1925
to IS rs under a decline of 25 to so
cents. Common and medium kinds
were IS cents lower at Omaha.
The hog market took a distinct dis
like for the light stuff that seems to
be running wild. 1t looks as If the
average price for the week at Chicago
is going to be less than SIS hundred
pounCis-the lowest Fall price since the
panic of 1907. While the top for the
week was $5.35, the late top was $5,05,
which is exactly the average price paid
for hogs in March, 1908.
/ Receipts Heavier.
Both open and direct receipts were
heavier than last week and prices slid
off Is to IS cents at Chicago, while pigs
and packing sows lost 25 to 35 cents.
Packing sowS and heavy hogs had been
holding up well. Underweights lost most
in the steady to 15-cent lower market
at Kansas City, where packers were
good buyers on the decline. Poor con-
dition of the dressed trade helped the
15-cent decline at Omaha and the loss
of IS to 40 cents on lights and packing
soWS.
Pork was weak from the opening at
New York and the loin trade after mid
week experienced the lowest demand
in many years. The price broke 50
to So.
Efforts of Western sheepmen to drive
their slaughter stock in before snow
blocks the ranges and mountain passes
has put an excessive supply of thin
lambs on the market. There was some
late regain of loss after the price OF
fat lambs tumbled Is to rs cents
around the circuit. Feeding lambs
dropped 25 to so cents at Chicago,
where stockmen could get them for
$3.50 to $50. The bulk of both ma
tive and range lambs went at $3.50
to 1925.
Large supplies. low prices and slow
demand resulted in considerable freez-
ing of lamb carcass in wholesale
channels. !