HEAVY RECEIPTS FEATURE WEEK’S LIVE STOCK BUSINESS.

Trend of Cattle Prices Decidedly Irregular—Hog Market Has Fairly Healthy Tone.

(Chicago, East St. Louis, Kansas City, Omaha, and St. Paul.)

Receipts of live stock during the closing week of September were of generous volume despite the fact that conditions in some departments of the trade during the preceding week bordered on demoralization. An increased proportion of trashy, light-weight cattle indicated that producers were anxious to liquidate surplus holdings before stormy weather sets in, while a corresponding decrease in receipts of corn-feds suggested a decreased number of well-conditioned beef cattle in feeders’ hands.

Chicago’s cattle receipts for the week were the largest since January, while the combined ten-market supply of about 242,300 cattle was practically the same as the week previous but 41,000 short of the corresponding week a year ago.

Following the descent of hog prices during the preceding week to the lowest levels of the year, the marketward movement of hogs expanded materially, the ten-market total at approximately 436,000 being 40,000 in excess of the week previous, and nearly 60,000 greater than the same week last year. The hog run, while continuing to carry an abnormally large proportion of heavy packing sows for this period of the year, showed a considerably enlarged quota Of spring-farrowed, light and underweight stock and average weights decreased at most points. The disposition shown by producers in many sections to unload pigs and immature light hogs was anything but a bullish influence on prices but a revival of eastern shipping demand assisted in checking the decline.

SHEEP AND LAMB RECEIPTS LARGE.

Receipts of sheep and lambs for the week both at Chicago and numerous other western points were the largest of the year, the ten-market total of about 419,500 exceeding the previous week’s supply by approximately 38,000 and being nearly 1,000 in excess of those of the same week last year. The crop, however, carried a heavy proportion of feeders from the western range and the market displayed gratifying stability following the slump in prices during the week previous, which was one of the most severe slumps of the season.

Cattle.—Higher prices for most grades of beef steers showing effective corn feeding, further seasonal expansion in the movement of both native and western grass cattle, and further evidences of increasing interest on the part of stocker and feeder buyers featured the cattle trade during the week under review. The trend of prices at the different market centers was decidedly irregular. Omaha, where receipts were considerably lighter than the preceding week, showed advances on practically all classes of cattle. Other River markets under review showed irregular declines on grass cattle and comparatively little change on desirable corn-feds. At Chicago, where receipts of northwestern range cattle were nearly double the largest previous run this season, grass steers and the less desirable of the warmed-up and plain, heavy, fed steers sold steady to 25¢ lower, and the better grades of corn-fed steers, including yearlings, all the way from 10¢ to 50¢ higher.

The return of $11 cattle after an absence dating back to last January, marked the week’s trading at Chicago. Two lots of prime Angus and Hereford yearlings averaging 985 lbs. and 891 lbs., respectively, brought that price. The former consignment was made up of natives from an Iowa feed lot, nearly half of which were heifers. The other lot consisted of Illinois-fed, branded steers which originally came from Texas.

The popularity at all market centers of well-finished yearlings on the baby beef order and of finished 1,100-lb. to 1,300-lb. steers over the weighty and more aged bullocks was as pronounced as ever, and the price premiums earned by the former were unprecedented for this season of the year. Thick-fat 1,400-lb. to 1,500-lb. steers of high quality and closely approaching prime grade could not pass $9.25 at Chicago and contrasted oddly with the moderately fat, short-fed yearlings that brought about the same figure. Ripe steers in the 1,600-lb. to 1,760-lb. class that had been grain-fed a year or more, sold at Chicago and Omaha at $8.25 to $8.50 with a plainer, weighty kind that had consumed considerable corn, down to $7.50. Many sales of good and choice 1,200-lb. to 1,350-lb. steers between $8 and $8.75 were made at Chicago and elsewhere. A few loads of long yearlings averaging 1,100 lbs. to 1,175 lbs. sold as high as $10 and $10.50.

A generous proportion of the run, however, all around the western market circuit consisted of branded and native grass steers of mediocre and medium killing quality that cashed at $5 to $6.50, comparatively few straight grass steers being good enough to bring $7. This was true despite the fact that two loads of Montanas reached $7.25 at Chicago. Light grass steers of common quality but carrying enough flesh to make cheap carcass beef, sold as low as $4.25 and $4.50 at St. Paul and Missouri River points and a few, chiefly on the Mexican order, ranged downward from $5 at Chicago.

An increase of nearly 50% in receipts of northwestern grass cattle at Chicago was credited in part to the 20% cut in long-haul freight rates. The week’s total of about 13,000 cattle from that source, however, was but little more than half as large as similar receipts during the corresponding week last year. It seems probable, however, that the Northwest will ship more freely during October, as after this month stormy weather is likely to put an end to cattle roundups.

Liberal receipts of low and medium grade steers and their cheapness “on the hooks” as compared with most grades of she stock had a depressing effect on cow and heifer prices at all markets covered by this report except Omaha. At the latter market light receipts forced cow prices up along with those of most other classes of cattle. Canners and choice dry-fed heifer yearlings withstood the downward tendency and held about steady.

SHE-STOCK PRICES BREAK.

The break in she-stock prices ranged anywhere from 25¢. to $1. Declines were most severe at Chicago, where medium to good grades of fat cows and the same classes of grass heifers frequently showed a break of 75¢. to $1 compared with the previous week-end. A spread of $3.75 to $5.75 took the big end of the week’s supply of grass cows and heifers, while canners and cutters ranged largely from $2.25 to $3.25. The best of the light, corn-fed heifer yearlings sold well in line with finished steer yearlings, but they had to be of the baby-beef type. Owing to scarcity of corn-fed cows and a slackened demand for kosher cows due to the approaching Jewish holidays, few heavy cows were good enough to bring $6 at any of the large western markets.

Bulls sold steady to lower at most points, while calves were sharply lower at both Chicago and St. Paul, little changed at Kansas City and St. Louis, and higher at Omaha because of meager receipts.

The demand for stock and feeding cattle, which has been gaining breadth during recent weeks, was comparatively liberal during the closing week of September and the total movement to the country was the largest of the year to date. Except Omaha, where stocker and feeder cattle shared in the general price upturn, prices of such cattle at points under review were at the lowest levels of the year to date. Well-bred yearlings and light feeders were in strongest demand.

With the exception of a few steers on the fat cattle order, few cattle went to the country costing over $6.75. The bulk of the feeder steers sold within a range of $5.25 to $6.25 and stockers largely between $5 and $6. Some of the best stock steers, however, sold right up with the choice heavy feeders and many plain and common light stockers sold downward from $4.50. Kansas City reported a fully steady market for stock cows and heifers with a good many cows going out at $3.50 to $4, and many stock heifers at $4 to $5 with a few as high as $5.50.

RECEIPTS, SHIPMENTS, AND LOCAL SLAUGHTER FOR THE WEEK ENDING OCT. 1.

Markets.Cattle and calves.Hogs.Sheep.
Re-
ceipts.		Ship-
ments.		Local
slaugh-
ter.		Re-
ceipts.		Ship-
ments.		Local
slaugh-
ter.		Re-
ceipts.		Ship-
ments.		Local
slaugh-
ter.
Chicago79,07625,33253,744126,43227,14899,284148,77957,90390,876
Denver[1]9,4827,7672,2722,793...2,67544,71334,4694,086
East St. Louis30,06714,64010,10148,09417,53622,9047,4341,0814,062
Indianapolis[1]9,5334,3984,91960,43732,34927,3992,8231,5471,323
Kansas City78,44643,85131,00228,9148,10920,92647,12112,17924,234
Oklahoma City7,7672,5094,5574,5742724,142165...165
Omaha35,55723,65711,90030,6075,68724,920126,96673,49653,470
St. Joseph[1]13,6395,0069,10121,1222,95317,54128,5658,12317,545
St. Paul[1]24,30113,02312,16331,3394,44527,03519,2096,82312,381
Sioux City15,03211,6594,29628,0689,87416,2858,2424,2934,564
Wichita[1]7,5545,4222,4154,2361274,270399251169
Total310,456157,264146,470356,616108,560267,381434,416260,165222,875
Previous week324,438153,997154,269373,574100,615258,235403,963169,947213,446

[1] Week ending Friday, Sept. 30.

DAILY AVERAGE WEIGHT AND COST OF HOGS FOR WEEK ENDING OCT. 1.
[Price per 100 lbs.]

Mon.Tues.Wed.Thurs.Fri.Sat.This wk.Last wk.1 yr. ago.
Wt.Cost.Wt.Cost.Wt.Cost.Wt.Cost.Wt.Cost.Wt.Cost.Wt.Cost.Wt.Cost.Wt.Cost.
Chicago272$7.10255$7.29262$7.31246$7.30246$7.43280$7.06259$7.25263$7.42247$15.74
E. St. Louis1958.221888.161888.162048.002097.942018.101988.101928.1719616.35
Kansas City2097.532097.522097.542257.352217.232707.332137.462137.7722015.79
Omaha3046.412926.612896.843006.442906.962926.412946.552996.8627315.72
S. St. Paul2436.582356.832456.952366.952467.202117.022406.862367.16......
The above prices are computed on packer and shipper purchases.
Mon.Tues.Wed.Thurs.Fri.
Wt.Cost.Wt.Cost.Wt.Cost.Wt.Cost.Wt.Cost.
Chicago272$7.10255$7.29262$7.31246$7.30246$7.43
E. St. Louis1958.221888.161888.162048.002097.94
Kansas City2097.532097.522097.542257.352217.23
Omaha3046.412926.612896.843006.442906.96
S. St. Paul2436.582356.832456.952366.952467.20
Sat.This wk.Last wk.1 yr. ago.
Wt.Cost.Wt.Cost.Wt.Cost.Wt.Cost.
Chicago280$7.06259$7.25263$7.42247$15.74
E. St. Louis2018.101988.101928.1719616.35
Kansas City2707.332137.462137.7722015.79
Omaha2926.412946.552996.8627315.72
S. St. Paul2117.022406.862367.16......
The above prices are computed on packer and shipper purchases.

Hogs.—The hog market had a fairly healthy tone and the erratic fluctuations which marked the trade for several weeks previous were, for the most part, missing. While during the preceding week, average cost of hogs at the markets under review showed a decrease, Chicago prices dropping to the lowest levels since early in 1916, closing prices of the week under review were generally 10¢ to 15¢ higher than the previous week-end. A broader eastern demand was partly responsible for the advance.

While the proportion of new crop hogs showed a seasonal increase at practically all points, the continued heavy receipts of packing sows caused considerable comment. Traders at Chicago do not recall any recent period when receipts at this time of the year carried so large a percentage of packing sows as do current offerings. Packing sows were of almost uniformly good quality, many of them being almost as smooth as barrows. Several of the smaller packers at Chicago turned from heavy barrows to good and choice sows.

Many of the new-crop hogs showed very little finish and buyers complained that many were “dopey” apparently suffering from the effects of initial rations of new corn. On almost every day butcher hogs averaging 200 lbs. to 240 lbs. sold at top prices at Chicago, while the 160-lb. to 170-lb. kinds closed considerably under top quotations.

The closing top at Chicago was $8.30 with the average cost that day $7.06. The average cost of packing and shipping droves for the week at that point was $7.25, with the average weight at 259 lbs., the lightest since the week ending Aug. 6. The closing top at East St. Louis was $8.35, at Kansas City $7.65, at Omaha $7.75, and at St. Paul $7.60.

SHEEP AND LAMB TRADE IMPROVED.

Sheep.—Considering supplies, which at leading western markets were the heaviest of the year, sheep and lamb trade during the final week of September showed some improvement. Receipts at Chicago were larger than during any previous week since 1919 and range lambs, carrying the largest proportion of feeders of the season, were greatly in the majority.

In the fat classes, supply and demand were evenly balanced and as the feeder outlet developed considerable breadth, closing prices on all classes were practically steady with the close of the week previous.

Sheep were generally steady at all points except Kansas City, where prices worked 25¢ to 50¢ higher on fat classes. Fat lambs closed lower for the week at Omaha and higher at East St. Louis but were little changed elsewhere. Feeder classes sold steady to somewhat higher at all points. The range movement started early this summer and the early season output of feeders was small.

Opening, Oct. 3.—Beef steers were strong to 25¢ higher at Chicago with desirable corn-feds gaining most. River markets were generally steady to strong on corn-feds and slow to lower on grassers. The week opened with a big run of 35,000 cattle at Kansas City. Chicago’s receipts at 20,000 cattle were well below expectations and the supply of good corn-fed cattle showed a marked decrease. Top yearlings reached $11.15 at Chicago, the highest point reached since early in January and within 10¢ of the top for the year on yearlings.

With receipts moderate, hog prices were generally strong to 15¢ higher. East St. Louis reported a 15¢ to 25¢ advance with top hogs at $8.55. At Chicago the top was $8.45 and at Omaha $8, at Kansas City $7.90 and at St. Paul $7.50.

Fat sheep and lambs opened generally steady to 25¢ higher. Western fat lambs topped at $9 at Chicago, $8.50 at Omaha, and $8.40 at Kansas City. Fat natives reached $8.50 at Chicago. The fat ewe top was $4.75 at Chicago, $4.50 at East St. Louis, and $4.25 at Omaha. Best feeder lambs brought $7.25 at Chicago on a firm market and $7 at Omaha.

LIVE STOCK PRICES, TUESDAY, OCT. 4.
[Per 100 lbs.]

Chicago.East
St. Louis.		Kansas
City.		Omaha.St. Paul.
HOGS.
Top$8.55$8.65$8.10$8.10$7.75
Bulk of sales6.65-8.408.25-8.657.25-8.006.25-7.506.50-7.75
Heavy (250 lbs. up), medium-choice7.60-8.407.50-8.557.15-8.006.75-7.506.75-7.50
Medium (200-250 lbs.), common-choice8.20-8.508.40-8.657.35-8.107.00-8.006.85-7.75
Light (150-200 lbs.), common-choice7.85-8.508.25-8.657.00-8.107.35-8.107.35-7.75
Light lights (130-150 lbs.), common-choice7.65-8.208.15-8.506.75-7.85......
Packing sows (250 lbs. up), smooth6.65-7.256.25-6.756.25-7.006.15-6.656.25-6.85
Packing sows (250 lbs. up), rough6.25-6.655.75-6.255.50-6.255.75-6.156.00-6.40
Pigs (150 lbs. down), common-choice7.10-7.757.65-8.30.........
Stock pigs (130 lbs. down)...6.75-8.256.50-8.357.00-8.007.50-8.25
CATTLE.
Beef steers:
Medium and heavy (1,100 lbs. up)—
Choice and prime8.85-10.908.75-10.008.50-10.008.50-9.75...
Good8.25-9.658.25-9.257.00-9.007.75-8.507.75-8.75
Medium6.00-8.755.25-8.255.25-7.255.50-7.756.00-7.75
Common5.00-6.004.50-5.254.35-5.254.25-5.504.25-5.75
Light weight (1,100 lbs. down)—
Choice and prime10.25-11.259.75-11.009.50-10.359.75-10.75...
Good9.00-10.258.50-9.757.10-9.507.50-9.758.50-9.50
Medium6.00-9.004.75-8.505.00-7.405.25-7.506.00-8.50
Common4.75-6.004.00-4.754.00-5.004.00-5.254.00-6.00
Butcher cattle:
Heifers, common-choice4.25-9.254.25-10.503.75-8.004.00-8.753.50-8.75
Cows, common-choice3.50-6.753.25-6.003.35-5.503.75-6.503.00-6.50
Bulls, bologna, and beef3.65-6.353.25-6.253.00-5.253.00-6.252.75-5.50
Canners and cutters:
Cows and heifers2.50-3.502.25-3.502.00-3.352.25-3.751.75-3.00
Canner steers3.00-3.502.50-3.002.50-3.252.50-3.752.25-3.00
Veal calves:
Light and medium weight, medium-choice5.50-11.506.00-11.507.00-10.007.00-10.005.00-9.50
Heavy weight, common-choice3.50-7.003.00-7.003.00-6.503.50-7.253.00-6.00
Feeder steers:
1,000 lbs. up, common-choice5.00-6.755.00-6.504.60-7.005.00-7.253.75-6.25
750-1,000 lbs., common-choice4.85-6.504.50-6.504.50-6.904.75-7.003.50-6.00
Stocker cattle:
Steers, common-choice3.75-6.503.50-6.503.40-6.653.75-7.003.25-6.00
Cows and heifers, common-choice3.25-4.752.50-5.502.50-5.502.75-5.502.50-4.00
Calves:
Good and choice...5.25-6.255.50-6.505.75-7.25...
Common and medium...4.00-5.003.25-5.253.75-5.75...
SHEEP.
Lambs:
84 lbs. down, medium-choice7.25-9.256.75-8.757.25-8.757.25-8.756.25-8.00
Culls and common4.75-7.254.00-6.504.00-7.004.75-7.003.00-6.00
Feeding lambs6.00-7.25...5.25-7.006.00-7.254.50-6.50
Yearlings, wethers, medium-prime5.00-7.004.50-6.004.50-6.255.00-6.254.50-6.25
Wethers, medium-prime4.00-5.503.50-5.004.00-5.254.00-5.003.25-4.75
Ewes:
Medium-good and choice3.00-5.003.00-4.003.25-4.603.25-4.502.75-4.00
Culls and common1.50-2.751.00-2.751.00-3.001.50-3.001.00-2.75
Breeding ewes (full mouths to yearlings)3.25-6.25...3.50-5.753.50-5.25...
Feeding ewes.........2.75-3.50...

WHOLESALE PRICES OF WESTERN DRESSED MEATS, TUESDAY, OCT. 4.
[Per 100 lbs.]

Chicago.New York.
Oct. 4.Sept. 27.Sept. 6.Oct. 4.Sept. 27.Sept. 6.
Fresh beef:
Steers—
Choice$16.50-17.50$16.50-17.00$17.00-17.50$17.00-19.00$17.00-19.00$18.00-19.00
Good15.50-16.5015.50-16.5015.50-16.5014.00-16.0014.00-16.0015.00-17.00
Medium12.00-14.0012.00-14.0011.50-14.0011.00-13.0012.00-13.5013.00-14.00
Common8.50-10.008.50-10.008.50-10.509.00-10.0010.00-11.009.00-12.00
Cows—
Good11.50-12.0011.50-12.0011.00-11.50...10.00-11.0011.00-12.00
Medium10.00-11.0010.00-11.009.50-10.509.00-10.009.00-10.009.00-10.00
Common8.00-9.007.50-9.008.00-9.008.00-9.008.00-9.008.00-9.00
Bulls—
Common7.75-8.257.75-8.257.50-8.008.00-9.008.50-9.007.00-7.50
Fresh lamb and mutton:
Lamb—
Choice17.00-18.0018.00-19.0019.00-20.0018.00-19.0019.00-20.0020.00-21.00
Good15.00-16.0016.00-17.0017.00-18.0016.00-17.0016.00-18.0019.00-20.00
Medium13.00-14.0014.00-15.0015.00-16.0015.00-16.0015.00-16.0016.00-18.00
Common10.00-12.0010.00-12.0012.00-14.0010.00-14.0010.00-14.0010.00-15.00
Mutton—
Good9.00-10.009.00-10.0010.50-11.0011.00-12.0012.00-13.0011.00-13.00
Medium7.00-8.007.00-8.009.00-10.0010.00-11.0010.00-11.0010.00-11.00
Common6.00-7.006.00-7.006.00-8.007.00-9.007.00-9.005.00-9.00
Fresh veal:
Choice19.00-20.0019.00-21.0020.00-22.0021.00-22.0023.00-25.0025.00-26.00
Good16.00-18.0017.00-19.0019.00-20.0018.00-20.0019.00-21.0022.00-24.00
Medium13.00-15.0012.00-14.0016.00-18.0014.00-17.0015.00-18.0019.00-20.00
Common9.00-12.008.00-11.0012.00-15.008.00-10.009.00-12.0014.00-17.00
Fresh pork cuts:
Loins—
8-10 lbs. average24.00-26.0025.00-27.0029.00-30.0027.00-28.0023.00-30.0029.00-30.00
10-12 lbs. average20.00-22.0021.00-23.0027.00-28.0025.00-26.0027.00-20.0026.00-28.00
12-14 lbs. average18.00-20.0018.00-20.0022.00-25.0021.00-23.0024.00-25.0023.00-25.00
14-16 lbs. average16.00-18.0016.00-18.0019.00-21.0018.00-20.0018.00-20.0020.00-21.00
16 lbs. and over12.00-15.0013.00-15.0015.00-18.0015.00-18.0016.00-18.0017.00-18.00
Shoulders—
Skinned13.00-14.0014.00-15.0014.50-15.0014.00-15.0015.00-16.0015.00-16.00
Picnics—
4-6 lbs. average10.50-11.0011.00-11.5012.00-12.50.........
6-8 lbs. average10.00-10.5010.00-11.0011.00-12.0011.00-12.0011.00-12.0013.00-14.00
Butts—
Boston style16.00-17.0016.00-17.0018.00-20.0018.00-19.0018.00-20.0017.00-18.00