Montana farmer-stockman., 1948-09-15
Montana Livestock Market
USDA WEEKLY SUMMARY
BILLINGS, SEPT. 80

ATT AM CALVES-Cattle
Billings from one week earlier and the com
parable period last year. Only around 3,465
head of cattle and 285 head Of calves COM
prised the offering through Thursday this
week, against 4,787 head Of cattle and 493
head of calves for the same period last week.
One year ago, cattle receipts for the same
period added up to 6,159 head, and calf num-
bers to 63 head.
The smaller marketings this week were
partly attributed to the early week holiday
when local receipts were comparatively light,
another factor being the sharply lower prices
enforced late last week on most classes. The
twelve major markets REPORTED 1853, ITO head
of salable cattle through Thursday this week
compared with 7 $500 head for the com,
parable period last week, and 287,444 head
for the same days last year.
Trading Opens Slow
Trading opened rather slow on all classes
Of cattle this week. Following last weeks
provement in action on most classes as the
week progressed. The trade being fairly &C
on slaughter classes from the start compared
with late last week, however, strong prices
IS to SO cents higher. Demand was somewhat
narrower for bulls this week resulting in a
weak to SO cents lower trend on this class.
Vealers prices held generally steady.
Approximately one load Of high good and
low choice 1,225-pound grass slaughter steers
topped at s27,25 this week, only a sprinkling
of other mostly medium grade grass steers
earning s24 to s27. Common and medium
grass heifers bulked at $40 to SOS. odd good
cows we're largely included in a price spread
from $3.50 to s21 Is, high good young cows
frequently selling upward to around s22.50
after Monday.
Common and medium grades of COWS earned
mostly SIT to $40, and Gamers and cutters
bulked at s14 to SIS, fleshy cutters reaching
$3.50, and some shelly Gamers sold down-
ward to around So. Medium and good sausage
bulls touching $50. Only a limited number
OF common to good vealers were noted at
SIT to s25.
cr0Cr-.e 49,
classes comprised fully so percent of the re-
ceipts this week. Heavy feeder steers realized
a rather slow trade throughout the week,
however, replacement ella sses enjoyed a grad
ual improvement in action as the week pro-
crossed, yearling feeder steers finding a fairly
active trade by midweek. Good and choice
stocker and feeder steers and yearlings bulked
at s24.50 to $27, the outside price being paid
for mostly choice yearlings.
The practical top stockers in rather limited
numbers secured $40 to s23. so. Good and
choice yearling Stocker and feeder heifers
s24,5o being in a fleshy condition. Scattered
small lots Of medium and good mixed steer
and heifer stock calves bulked at s23 to s26.
choice steer. stock calves going upward TO
s27.6o. A fairly liberal supply of medium and
good stocker and feeder COWS moved scale
ward at $3.50 to 1920.
HOGS+The salable hog supply Of 35 head
was practically the same as for the COM
parable period last week and compared with
on slaughter hogs held mostly steady this
week, with last weeks close, although, some
late sales on DutcherS were % cents lower
Good and choice 100 to 240-pound butchers
topped at $50 in each session, but some late
week sales stopped at SOS. so.
Odd lots of mostly good $50 to 170-pount
butchers secured $3.50 to 500 and odd sale.
on good and choice $40 to 330-pound butchers
were made at 81 to 50 discounts for weight
Most good and choice 800 to 520-pound SOW
cleared at so to SIS, choice lightweight SOW!
reaching $26. Scattered sales on good ant
choice feeder pigs we're made at 500. so Il
$50, and several sales on weaver pigs wer
reported at around s4 to $1,000 per head
SHEEP-Marketings of sheep for the frs
four days this week were estimated at 1875
head, a decline of around 100 head from tn
same period last week. Slaughter lamb
opened around steady with the late last week
but showed generally a SO cents upturn a
midweek. Good and choice spring slaughte
lambs cashed at mostly s23 on Monday AM
Tuesday, midweek sales reaching $3.50, AM
a few medium and good springers secures
$3.50 to s22. SO. odd common lambs sellin
downward to SIT.
Slaughter ewes opened at weak to so cent
lower prices, but midweek sales compare
steady with late last week. Common an
medium slaughter ewes bulked at 81 to SO. 81
a part load of medium and good slaughte
ewes selling as high as $3.50 at midweeH
Fully steady to strong prices ruled on feede
lambs, most good and choice feeder lamb
earning SOL to 500, some f1eshy feeders reach
ing s22.25. and a few common around sc
pound feeders topped at SIT. Odd mediur
and good yearling wethers sold on slaughte
accounts at SIS to SIG.