Evening star., 1933-02-05
LIVE STOCK PRICES
SHOW SHARP GAIN
Increase of rs to so Cents
Noted in Quotations for
Heavy Steers.
BY FRANK 1. WELLER,
Associated Press Farm Editor

Associated Press Farm EDITOR.
The price OF heavy steers has ad-
vanced Is to so cents under general
abatement Of supplies at all markets.
Chicago buyers paid top of s6.10 on
bullocks, taking the bulk of offerings
at $425 to IS. compared with $3.75 to
$3.50 last week. Altogether, 1t was a
market which stood in sharp contrast
with a week ago, when heavy steers
were drug on the market and the
penalty on weight the cause of wide
price disparity when steers crossed the
l,000-pound line.
A wider circle Of buyers entered the
trade. probably in response to improve
ment in the Chicago dressed trade and
knowledge that heavy steers recently
had sold at prices which made the
product attractive, although it still was
difficult to move heavy cuts and car
casses.
New Shipments Watched.
The fact, however, that the Eastern
dressed beef trade remained very slug
gish while shipper demand developed
enough competition to boost prices. gave
rise to the suggestion that much of
the upturn in live values might be
a forced affair The trade is awaiting
next weeks run Of cattle to decide the
point. If supply figures are promptly
increased it fears a setback-and it has
become almost customary recently for
every advance to attract cattle with
weight.
Good and choice light steers and long
yearlings continued to bring their sharp
premium over weighty bullocks, the top
on yearlings going to S725, while
spread Of 81 to $6.25 took the main
crop. Those prices presented a steady
to rs cents higher market. Moderate
scarcity featured the supply of light
cattle. Heavy beef COWS tended to drag,
cutters declining 10 to Is cents
Demand for replacement cattle was
was active. Prices inclined lower as
weakness was helped along by killer in
activity on common light steers Most
of the green and warmed up crop of
stockers sold at $3.50 to $3.50. the de-
mand for heavy feeders remaining at
standstill. At the big replacement mar
kets more cattle went back to the
country feed lots in January than dur
ing the same month last year
The Chicago hog market has been
uneven for a week. but with the closing
top at $3.50 is about unchanged from
week ago. Advancing at the close of
laSt week until the top reached S3 %,
a new high since November. the market
opened sharply lower and gradually
came up to within cents of the pre-
vious high time only to ease back that
amount. During that time the top was
boosted above 81 at one of the Eastern
markets.
Receipts Lighter.
Twelve principal markets received
$4,000 head the first four days of the
week, compared with 4l5.0OO last week
and 423,000 the like period last year
Bad country roads were a hindrance to
marketing. Receipts varied widely from
day to day.
The tendency to buy lambs more
strictly on their merits from a weight
standpoint was the principal feature OF
the fat lamb trade The price trend
quieted down, following last weeks
rather violent fluctuations. The stabil-
izing influence was largely better dis
tribution and some contraction in re-
ceipts. The top turbled from s6.l5 to
IS 80. then back to S6. strengthening in
the face Of an otherwise weak to lower
market.