Montana farmer-stockman., 1948-03-01
Montana Markets
USDA WEEKLY SUMMARY
BILLINGS, FEB. 20-26

able livestock receipts made moderate gains
livestock markets. The four-day
salable cattle supply at Billings added up
to around 1,7o0 head along with 400 head
of calves compared with 1,195 cattle and 154
head of calves for the same period last week.
The IL principal livestock markets reported
through Thursday this week, and 80, 500 head
of calves, an increase of 1000 head of cat
tie over the comparable period last week,
approximately 10 percent of the marketings
at Billings were comprised Of slaughter cat
tie, the balance being replacement classes,
largely stock calves and yearlings.
Prices Steady
There was a marked Improvement in de-
this week, but trading had a tendency to
slow down at midweek. Slaughter steers
showed little or no price change from pre-
vious weeks, but most sales on shortfed heif-
cents higher than late last week.
Fully steady to strong prices ruled on
Gamer and cutter cows. Early sales on bulls
compared steady with late last week, but
values looked so to rs cents lower after mid
week. Limited Numbers of slaughter calves
and yealers showed little or no price change.
Slaughter steers were represented largely
steers and y~earlings that bulked at $40 to
S23. so, the latter price being paid for one
good 1,O64-pound fed y~eariings scored s24.4 40
s24. so.
Numerous packages of medium and good
fed heifers secured $40 to s22. rs, the outside
price being paid for one load of good 923-
heifers sold as high as s24 on Monday. A
few cutter to common heifers ranged from
SIS to s18. Good beef cows bulked at $3.50
to $19 so. high good young COW selling upward
to s21. SO.
Early week sales on medium and good saul
beef offerings selling upward to $3.50 with
an outstanding individual up to $22.3 30, but
SIS s0t to SIS II 50 s late. sI Medium nu and sq good d. s iaUsihhs
ter calves and vealers turned at $19 to $23,
a few head of choice offerings reaching SIS.
N Notwithstanding inter-
est expanded this week on replacement classes
over to strong to 81 higher on most classes
sales. on good and choice fleshy feeding steers
noted at $1,000 to $22. Some sales on small
steers were noted upward to $24.
Medium and good stock heifers were in
fairly broad demand at s17.50 to SIS. SO. Fea-
turing the replacement trade the week was a
200-head consignment of mostly choice mixed
steer sne .u ann do, Meier ste STOCK R,o CAVES, the steers seal ,s1
s24.
Scattered lots of other good and choice
stock steer calves were noted at $22 to $24. 40,
comparable grade heifer calves earning $40
to s23. On Monday, several load lots of good
throughout the week a few other medium and
good stock cows were noted at $3.50 to
$3.50.
HOGS-Approximately $50 head of hogs were
marketed through Thursday this week at Bill
illSS compared WlGn 0l3 nedQ 1Or the COM
parable period last week and 402 head for
the same period one year ago. A gradual price
Improvement left values on Thursday only
so cents under last weeks close. Sow values
slipped 81 to $3.50, and little recovery was
experienced from that early week loss.
Good and choice 1870 to 240-pound butch
ers at the low time stopped at s22.50. These
weights recovering to sell at $23. SO on Thurs
day. Good and choice 240 to 300-pound aver
ages were discounted 81 to 50 for weight
some 400 to 450-pound barrows being off as
much as $3.50. Limited numbers of good
and choice sows ranged from SIS to ST
throughout the week. Good and choice feeder
pigs sold around steady at $40 to $24.
~HEEP-Salab sheep supplies were esti.
mated at 1,780 head for four days this week
practically the same number as for the COM
parable period last week. 1t was a draggy
trade throughout the week at barely steady
to weak prices on all classes of sheep, weak
ness being most apparent on heavy slaughter
lambs.
Around two loads lots of mixed medium
to choice 98-pound fed wooded lambs topped
at $40. so, another load lot of comparable
grade 96-pound bury lambs stopping at s19
while several decks and loads of medium tt
choice ITO to 128-pound fed wooded lamb.
ranged from $18 to $18. so, including one loac
Of medium to good 94-pound averages a.
$3.50.
Good and choice slaughter ewes in 1imitet
numbers earned SO, a few mostly medium
kind So, and some medium aged bucks SOLE
downward to So. A few packages of goot
and choice SO to 80-pound feeding lamb
earned $3.50 to $16.5 so.