Montana farmer-stockman., 1948-08-15
USDA WEEKLY
BILLINGS, AUG. 6-S

CATTLE MOVED to market ct Billings this
week Ia greater volume than any previous
week tnfS season and receipts even exceeded
the comparable period one year ago. An esti-
mated 355o head of cattle and zoo head Of
against za97 head of cattle and 309 head Of
calves for the first four days last week. Dur
ing the comparable period last year salable
cattle receipts added up to 3,191 head, and the
calf count to 176 head.
only limited numbers of medium and low
good grass steers found outlet on slaughter
accounts this week at SIS to $31. 10, except
for load lots of 1.2o2 and 1,33o-pound steers
tnat cashed at $780, An individual good fed
Al club yearling steer sold as high as s34 rs.
Most of the fleshy grass steers moved on
feeder, accounts. A moderate supply of medium
grass heifers bulked at s23 to s27. SO, odd COM
mon kind selling downward to around $40,
while an individual good heifer sold as high
as $751; rs on Monday. Most early sales on
good beef cows ranged from s21.50 to 500,
odd high good going upward to s25, but most
late sales were included in a narrow range
from s21 to s22. Common and medium cows
p-redominated at $3.50 to s2o.5o, a sprinklins
slightly lower.
STOCKERS N EIDE
Stocker and feeder steers and y~earlings
found only a moderately active trade this
lower than late last week, although choice
grades scored fully steady prices in most in
showed fully a so cents advance early. and
late sales compared fully steady with late
last week. Other replacement classes showed
little or no price change. Good and choice
stocker and feeder steers and yearrngs of ali
representative weights bulked at SIS to s2e, a
sprinkling of fleshy finishing steers selling
upward to s30-40. the largest consignment
consisted of a shipment of 400 mostly good
1000 to 1,050-pound feeder steers that earned
SIS to mostly s27. so.
Common and medium stock steers and year
hngs bulked at s18 to s24, and then there
were load lots of choice 824 and 898-pound
two-year-old feeder steers at $40. 10 and s29. rs.
Good and choice stocker and feeder heifers
bulked at $3.50 to s26.5 {, on Monday, one
load OF choice 616-pound heifers selling as
high as $3.50. Scattered sales on good and
choice mixed steer and heifer stock calves
were noted at s23 to $28. 10. Odd sales on me-
dunn to good stock cows with calves at side
we're made at s187 to sos per head. Stocker
cent of the receipts during the week.
HOGS
Further curtailment of hog marketings oc-
Cured at Billings this week, the salable sup
ply being limited to $50 head through Thurs
day. Slaughter classes showed little or no
price change from last weeks close, except for
odd sales on butchers which were rs cents
higher on Monday. Good and choice 100 to
240-pound butchers were rather scarce at
mostly 1913, a few reaching $50. Is at the best
time early in the week. Odd sales on COM
parable grade $50 to 180-pound butchers we're
noted at 500, and sprinkling of 240 to 300
pound weights cleaned at s28 to 500. A few
good BIS to 415-pound butchers cashed at
s24 to s25, around 5o0-pound averages as low
as $40.
Slaughter lambs, in very limited numbers,
cashed at weak to SO cents lower prices this
week than late the previous week. while other