Montana farmer-stockman., 1948-01-15
Montana Markets
USDA WEEKLY SUMMARY
BILLINGS, JAN. 2-8

CATTLE AND CALNES-Move-
ments Of livestock to the local markets in
creased considerably this week over the pre-
vious several weeks. Salable cattle receipts
through Thursday OF this week added up to
around 1900 head plus $50 head OF calves.
These numbers fell somewhat short of the
comparable period one year ago when $500
cattle and 1888 calves we're marketed.
The major midwest markets experienced
similar trends in marhetings, this weeks
salable cattle receipts for four days being
estimated at 235, 100 head. and the calf num-
bers at $1,000 head, against go, 116 head OF
cattle and sc, 746 head OF calves for the COM
parable period last year.
Unusually broad demand for practically all
classes Of cattle featured this weeks market
at Billings. A few opening sales compared
the bulk OF this weeks sales on all classes
figured so cents to 81 higher than last week.
the maximum gains. Slaughter cattle, largely
COWS and heifers, contributed around rs per-
cent OF this weeks salable supply, the other
% percent being replacement cattle.
Slaughter steers and y~earlings were limited
to mostly odd head medium and good grades
ter heifers bulked at $40 to 1862 this spread
including several load lots of good $50 to 932-
pound short-fed heifers at s25 to s26. Odd
beef COWS, including a few fed lots, bulked
at $40 to s21, several high good young cows
selling upward to $40 and better.
Common and medium cows bulked at S15. so
to $685. and most Gamers and cutters
earned $3.50 to SIS, q few shelly Gamers
good sausage bulls predominated at s18.5 so to
$40, a few common kind selling downward
to $17 and an individual good young beef
bull topped at S21. Good and choice slaughter
calves moved scaleward at s21 to $25, odd
head to see. $50. ..
sToCKERS N FEEDERs-stock calves
featured this weeks replacement trade, only
odd lots Of other classes being offered. Price
upturns TO so cents to 81 applied to most
classes, stock calves being fully 81 higher.
numerous packages Of good and choice re-
placement steers and yearlings earned $22 to
$25, a few head common and medium stock
O1TprlnrC turning ar I < m N p
Good and choice yearling feeding heiferE
earned 1885 to s22.30, latter price being paid
for a load lot of 643-pound weights. Medium
and good stock heifers cashed at mostly ST.
to $40. Good and choice steer stock calves
bulked at $22 to S27, comparable grade heife1
calves ut $50 to $25. Numerous sales OF medium
and good stock cows ranged from S14.50 to
$18.10, a few turning at $3.50 to $40 per head
HOGS-Price trends were rather eTratiC
throughout the week on slaughter hogs. Or
Monday butchers were off 81 from last weeks
close, but on the following two days upturnS
over last Friday, but declines on Thursday
left values 25 cents lower than last week
butchers made UP the bulk Of the supply
these weights stopping at s26.75 at the Low
time, but reached $2a at the high time OF
Sow values fluctuated along with prices OF
butchers, and averaged around so cents lower
good and choice grades bulking at s23 to s24
a few topping at $24.50. A generous suppl.
of feeder pigs sold around steady, good an
choice grades clearing at s26.25 to $3.50,
few weaver pigs scoring SIT and $3.50 pc
head.
SHEEP-Mostly steady prices ruled OF
slaughter lambs this week, although late sale
figured around 25 cents lower. Good an,
choice wooded fat lambs scored mostly s24
but stopping at s23.7 on Thursday. One Loaf
of mostly choice 112-pound fed wooled lamb
sold as high as s24.35, while a few medium
to good slaughter lambs secured s21 to 323.
Other classes OF sheep realized little or N
price change, except the top on slaughte
ewes was 81 higher than the recent high
Good and choice slaughter ewes earned 39.2
to SO. so, common and medium grades clearini
at 81 to $50. More than two loads Of choic
75-pound feeder lambs established a top o.
this class at s22. rs, other good and choic
feeders earning mostly s21 to s22, good light
weights SIC. so to 500.
Money may not buy happiness