Montana farmer-stockman., 1948-04-01
Montana Markets
USDA WEEKLY SUMMARY
BILLINGS. MARCH 1926

SLAUGHTER CATTLE AND C~ALyEs-sai-
able cattle receipts this week at Billings in
creased sharply over last week when sup
plies we're unusually light, and compared
about the same as during the several pre-
ceding weeks. Approximately 1910 head OF
cattle and 23a head of calves comprised the
supply through Thursday, against 756 head
of cattle and 96 head Of calves for the same
period last week
substantial gains over last week, the four
day saIable supply this week consisting Of
head of cattle last week, and 217,653 head
for the same period last year Calf receipts
increased from 10000 head for the first four
days last week to II, 600 for the comparable
period this week. Receipts at those markets
fell somewhat below normal throughout the
country.
Active trading featured the early week mar
ket at Billings on all classes of cattle, but
the trade had a tendency to slow up as the
Thursday when receipts became very light.
Slaughter steers and heffers comprised a
larger proportion of the receipts than during
any previous week this season, early sales
showing generally around a 81 upturn over
last week., closing sales however, showing
only around a SO cents gain,
Cows chalked up gains Of 81 or more on
rne open rng IFa "a ce pts hisber saie Prices ou
bulls advanced 81 to 50 from the previous
week. Late sales FIGURING mostly around 81
higher. A very limited supply of slaughter
calves and veaFers moved scaleward at around
81 higher prices
There was a marked Improvement IN the
killing quality OF the slaughter steers and
heifers this week over recent weeks; bulk
Steers ane s older, yeari Gfrns b sGHa ef at saS pd to s u.s.
several load lots being included In that price
spread. while most medium to low good
and good heifers bulked at sal to s243o. in
Guiding around one load of 900-pound aver
at $40 to SCI SO, odd head high good young
cows selling as high as $3.50.
Common and medium grades OF COWS COM
prised the bulk of the cow offering at s17.50
to $3.50. Gamer and cutter cows scored
mostly s14. 50 to SIT fleshy cutters fire.
rounds. Good beef bulls were more plenti.
full this week than in recent weeks at s23
to S23.5 so several early sales ranging from
500. so to S24. while medium and good sausage
offerings secured mostly $40 to so so, Mostly
odd head of medium and good slaughter
calves earned $50 to S24 So.
AND NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. and
feeders comprised only around Is percent OF
the salabIe receipts again this week. Prices
advanced around so cents ON most classes,
some early sales showing as much as a 81
head of good f1eshy yearling feeder steers
went back to feedlots at also to $23. Sew
eral shipments OF good and choice W
$3.50 to $3.50, one load of mostly choice
5os-pound averages going as high as s27.
Medium and good stock heiferS secured
s17.50 to $40, a few good to choice feeding
heifers going upward to s21-5o. Good and
choice stock steer calves in mostly odd lots
cashed at s24 to SGT and comparable grade
heifer calves clearing at S22 to SIS, a two
load shipment being held somewhat higher
late in the week. Medium and good stock
cows in limited supply cashed at $3.50 to
SIG. 10.
HOGS-SaIabIe hog receipts estimatei at
40 head for four days this week were prac-
tically the same as for the same period last
week. The trade was rather uneven through
opened at 81 so higher prices on Monday thar
last Friday then gradually declining to 9
IS cents lower price than last weeks close
Good and choice 180 to 240-pound butchers
at the best time topped at s24.50, declining
to 1913. so on Tuesday, S23 on Wednesday anG
dropping to $22-50 on Thursday.
Good and choice $40 to 30o-pound butchers
turned at 81 to So discounts for weight, aver
ages 300 to $50 pounds at 50 to 81 discounts
SowS were scarce. a few early sales on gooc
and choice 400 to 550-pound sowS being arounC
81 higher at SIG to SIT, but good sows wer,
limited number of good and choice feede
pigs ranged from $40 to s24, s24 being pait
early in the week.
= marketings were limited II
around 600 head through Thursday this week
this constituting hardly sufficient volume t.
fully test the market. Early week sales OF
slaughter lambs looked fully steady to stron
compared with late last week, but closin
values were weak to so cents lower. On Mon
day, short decks OF good and choice los I
108-pound slaughter lambs topped at $40, an
other part load of mixed medium to goo
117-pound wooded lambs going at s19.25.
AT midweek, a part deck of mostly goo
medium s7-pound averages earning $685.
Slaughter ewes In limited numbers sol
around steady, q few medium to good eve
earning So, Gull moving at 50. so to $50. Goo
and choice ewes being auotable around 81
One lot of good and choice 95-pound shear
scaling around IS rounds stopping at s1Ts