MEAT TRADE NARROW DURING MOST OF SEPTEMBER.

Fairly Good Demand Early in Month Not Sustained—Week-End Accumulations Frequent.

Fresh-meat trade during September was narrow and movements into consumptive channels were considerably less than during August, except for a short period at the beginning of the month when there was a fairly good demand for all classes. Although receipts of some classes were less than normal, week-end accumulations in wholesale markets were frequent and as a rule sharp declines followed.

Supplies of beef at eastern markets were approximately 8,250,000 lbs., or 13,800 carcasses less than a year ago. Veal supplies decreased 6,300 carcasses and mutton 32,000 carcasses. Lamb increased 63,000 carcasses, or 2,500,000 lbs. At eastern points the decrease in supplies of fresh pork from locally slaughtered hogs was more than offset by increased shipments from middle western packing centers and a net increase of 110,000 lbs. for the month was shown.

BEEF TRADE UNIMPROVED.

Beef.—Improved trade conditions which were expected to follow cooler weather did not materialize. Average weekly supplies were less than for several months past, but the demand was curtailed to an even greater extent. With liberal quantities of low-grade beef offered at packing centers, increased supplies of sausage material were available, and prices in most cases were fully 50% below those prevailing a year ago. Comparatively little choice beef was offered at any of the markets, and when it appeared in the form of heavy carcasses it was hard to move, selling only at a heavy discount. Carcasses weighing from 450 to 600 lbs. were the kind most in demand.

With supplies at eastern markets consisting chiefly of medium to good grass-fed steers, prices were uneven and during most of the month tended downward. Boston was relatively steadier than other eastern markets and closed only about $1 lower, while New York and Philadelphia registered sharp weekly fluctuations and closed unevenly $1 to $2 net lower. Although the demand at Chicago was again narrow and showed no apparent improvement over that of the preceding month, price changes were slight. To some extent this was caused by local conditions and the ability to adjust supplies to the demand.

Cow beef constituted a relatively small proportion of the offerings at all markets, and was materially less in quantity than at the same time a year ago. Markets were not generally supplied with bulls, and in most cases daily receipts were insufficient to justify quotations.

While kosher beef markets registered slight weekly fluctuations, the range of prices generally was steady, though somewhat higher than in August. The better grades were in best demand. Because of the near approach of Yom Kippur and other Jewish holidays, kosher killing was discontinued during the closing days of September and any surplus supplies were offered for sale to the regular trade.

Veal.—Liberal offerings of heavy veal carcasses, most of which were of undesirable quality, had a depressing effect on prices in general. Milk-fed veal was scarce, but when available found ready sale at firm prices. Receipts at eastern markets were 6,300 carcasses less than during the corresponding month a year ago, but were more than the trade required. Price ranges were materially widened, with the trend upward during the first week, but sharply downward through the remainder of the month. All markets were similarly affected. Closing prices at eastern markets were unevenly $2 to $3 lower than the opening, with common and medium grades registering the greatest decline. Choice veal at Chicago closed steady to $1 higher, with other grades mostly $2 lower than the opening.

LAMB TRADE CHAOTIC.

Lamb.—With continued heavy receipts of lambs at live-stock centers, the dressed trade was in a chaotic condition. Although estimated receipts of lamb at seven of the principal live-stock markets showed a decrease of 12% as compared with the same month one year ago, liberal offerings of Canadian lambs at eastern markets more than offset the decrease and intensified the already existing unsettled condition. This, together with the continued unequal demand, assisted in pushing prices of the dressed product below the low point reached in February of the present year. Total supplies at eastern markets exceeded those of the same period a year ago by 2,500,000 lbs., and fluctuations on the different grades amounted to $6.

While Chicago registered smaller fluctuations the trend was steadily downward and closing prices were $2 to $3 below the opening. Although closing prices at eastern markets were slightly above the low spot for the month, trade conditions at the close were generally unsatisfactory to the selling side. At the beginning of the month cold storage holdings were 820,519 lbs. less than a month earlier, but were still considerably above the season’s average during prewar years.

Mutton.—Receipts of mutton at eastern markets decreased 32,000 carcasses as compared with the same period a year ago. This reduction, together with a general improvement in quality over that of the previous month, was the principal factor contributing to a generally steady market in the East, particularly during the last half of the month. With supplies at Chicago consisting largely of heavy bucks and ewes and practically no handyweight wethers, that market declined sharply and closed $1.50 to $2 below the opening.

Pork.—Conditions in the fresh-pork trade were generally unsettled. Sharp weekly fluctuations caused by erratic advances on Mondays, which could not be maintained through the week, were an outstanding feature of the month’s trade at some markets. Supplies of loins at eastern markets were practically the same as a year ago and consisted mostly of frozen or chilled stock, for which there was an uneven demand. The latter sold at a wide range of prices and unevenly $4 to $10 below corresponding averages of fresh loins. Closing prices at eastern markets were only slightly changed from the opening, some averages being 50¢ to $1 lower.

Conditions at Chicago, which has been the high market during the past two months, were materially changed and declines equaling the advances of late July were registered during the last half of September. From the high point of $32 on light average loins, prices had dropped to $26 at the close. Heavier average loins registered similar declines. Shoulder cuts were relatively more stable but were mostly $1 to $1.50 off at the close.

Cured pork and lard.—The domestic demand for cured pork cuts and lard, while fair for the season, was not of sufficient volume to offset the decline in live-stock markets and prices registered sharp declines. Dry salt meats and lard were in relatively better demand than hams, bacon, and picnics, and showed proportionately smaller declines. At the close wholesale prices of hams at Chicago were off $3 to $3.50, bacon $2 to $2.50, and picnics $1.50 to $2. The net decline on lard amounted to 75¢, dry salt backs 50¢ to 75¢, and dry salt bellies about $1. Reacting from the general upward trend of prices during August, compound lard markets were weak and closing prices were unevenly 75¢ to $1.50 under the opening.

STOCKER AND FEEDER SHIPMENTS.
Week ending Friday, Sept. 30.

Cattle
and
calves.		Hogs.Sheep.
Market origin:
Chicago11,838...41,892
East St. Louis6,7995511,289
Fort Worth3,097353177
Indianapolis1,675537262
Kansas City26,7282,42810,674
Oklahoma City2,504272...
Omaha21,578...54,992
St. Joseph3,6111458,148
St. Paul9,7452043,837
Sioux City11,4972,2235,651
Wichita2,605127...
Total101,6776,840126,922
Previous week93,5645,77080,524
Same week last year109,1428,795168,815
State destination:
Arkansas30146...
California364......
Georgia78......
Idaho2......
Illinois16,3941,01618,285
Indiana5,96653713,297
Iowa21,2522,56427,640
Kansas6,8235381,482
Kentucky715...1,671
Maryland162...656
Massachusetts24......
Michigan1,160...9,696
Minnesota1,8996423,931
Missouri13,76543115,310
Nebraska17,66656324,891
New Jersey19......
New York......884
Ohio4,1122164,607
Oklahoma3,571126...
Pennsylvania4,490......
South Dakota1,201...1,877
Tennessee26......
Texas1,19061177
Virginia25......
West Virginia56......
Wisconsin6871,8662,518
Total101,6776,840126,922

Iowa led all other States in the number of telephones on farms reported to the Census Bureau on Jan. 1. A total of 2,508,002 farms or 38.9% of all farms in the country, had telephones.

List of Brazilian Live-stock Raisers and Breeders Available for Distribution.

A list containing the names and addresses of 10,000 live-stock raisers and breeders has just been received from the Minister of Agriculture of Brazil. The list also gives the number of animals owned by each producer. The total number of animals represented is 5,227,113.

Of the 10,000 breeders, 1,092 have 1,000 to 5,000 animals; 107 have between 5,000 and 10,000; and 39 have more than 10,000. Three of this latter group have 34,000 animals and one has 85,000. This list has been classified according to the number of animals owned, made up in mimeographed form, and will be sent to interested parties upon request. The list does not show the breed or kind of live stock grown.

Similar lists of breeders in Uruguay, Argentina, Colombia, and Mexico are also available. The list of Uruguayan breeders includes only those who have pure-bred animals and does not give the number owned. They are classified according to the breed raised. The list of Argentine breeders consists of the exhibitors at the Palermo show.

Argentine Exports of Chilled Beef, Frozen Mutton and Lamb Increase.

The exports of frozen beef from Argentina during the first seven months of 1921 show a decrease of 3,154,275 quarters, compared with the exports during the corresponding months of 1920, according to statistics compiled by the Review of the River Plate. The exports of chilled beef during the same period increased 601,096 quarters; exports of frozen mutton and lamb increased 1,011,754 and 355,593 carcasses, respectively.

The United Kingdom furnished the chief market for all of the frozen and chilled meats exported from Argentina during the seven months’ period, taking 1,582,035 quarters of frozen beef, 772,162 quarters of chilled beef, 1,468,466 carcasses of frozen mutton, and 586,123 carcasses of frozen lamb.

The following table shows the exports of frozen and chilled beef and frozen mutton and lamb from Argentina for the first seven months of 1921 as compared with the same period in the five preceding years:

First 7
months
of—		Frozen
beef.		Chilled
beef.		Frozen
mutton.		Frozen
lamb.
Quarters.Quarters.Car-
casses.		Car-
casses.
19162,465,408450,628933,964393,116
19172,935,365373,083664,540314,435
19183,249,64923,544546,161120,012
19192,851,53374,598826,958131,826
19205,344,635183,114594,727260,943
19212,189,360784,2101,606,481616,536

CHICAGO WHOLESALE PRICES OF CURED PORK AND PORK PRODUCTS.
[Per 100 lbs.]

Sept. 30.Sept. 23.Sept. 2.
Hams, smoked, 14-16 average$23.50-24.00$24.00-25.50$27.00-29.00
Hams, fancy 14-16 average26.00-26.7526.00-28.0030.00-31.50
Picnics, smoked, 4-8 average12.50-15.0012.50-14.5014.50-16.00
Bacon, breakfast, 6-8 average23.50-24.5024.00-24.5025.00-27.00
Bacon, fancy, 6-8 average34.00-35.0033.00-35.5034.00-38.00
Bellies, D. S., 14-16 average14.75-10.0013.75-15.7515.00-15.50
Backs, D. S., 14-16 average11.75-12.2510.25-11.7511.00-11.50
Pure lard, tierces11.50-13.7513.00-13.7513.00-14.50
Compound lard, tierces12.00-13.0012.25-12.7511.00-12.00

COLD STORAGE HOLDINGS OF FISH, SEPT. 15.
[Thousands of pounds, i. e., 000 omitted.]

Varieties.Sept.
15,
1921.		Sept.
15,
1920.		Aug.
15,
1921.		Aug.
15,
1920.		Frozen
since
Aug.
15,
1921.
FROZEN FISH.
Bluefish442256282211180
Butterfish422615255489203
Ciscoes5,8414,9994,4442,1521,875
Cod, bake, pollack1,8652,5781,8782,11395
Croakers34570933128193
Halibut9,12510,3407,6938,6301,363
Herring3,8705,4053,7155,480632
Lake trout1,04355599155493
Mackerel1,6032,6781,6963,015105
Rock fishes69200691854
Sablefish978834600597339
Salmon, fall83689175981565
Salmon, silver1,064540631414453
Salmon,other5,2623,2483,4192,2811,664
Sea bass61109681224
Shad34950232547428
Shad roe43434549...
Smelts, eulachon, etc.33511627210165
Squid3,0172,1633,17791053
Weakfish1,7554931,640449190
Whitefish1,7821,0161,587624207
Whiting5,2589,6494,9748,630464
Miscellaneous9,2268,4538,5808,5651,181
Total54,59156,29747,43147,1419,356
CURED FISH.
Herring16,20722,75211,91322,111...
Mild cured salmon6,8558,2756,1658,149...

Canadian Livestock Marketing Costs.

“It has been announced in the press that Quebec farmers are receiving a few dollars only for grass-fed calves, and from $10 up for cows, steers, etc.,” reports the American vice consul at Montreal. “The farmer sells his steer to the drover for 5¢ a lb. on the hoof. The latter sells to the abattoir for 6¢, and, after he has paid his overhead expenses, freight, shrinkage, etc., he makes an average of about $5 on each animal. The abattoir figures on a profit of about $6 on an average steer. There is little or no profit made on the forequarters, and for this the hind-quarters must compensate.”

ANIMALS SLAUGHTERED UNDER FEDERAL INSPECTION DURING AUGUST.

Station.Cattle.Calves.Sheep.Goats.Swine.
Chicago138,49634,538293,516...433,823
Fort Worth33,71340,51613,5493927,079
Kansas City98,89726,647104,83136167,034
National Stock Yards24,51611,10548,3121672,874
Omaha61,6344,573184,687...123,089
St. Louis16,7884,96510,663...104,840
Sioux City16,6371,13710,883...72,845
South St. Joseph23,7975,96258,81413105,624
South St. Paul19,42621,51333,177...96,357
All other establishments246,515152,840478,560971,326,894
Total:
August, 1921680,419303,7961,236,9922012,530,459
August, 1920685,763332,3491,041,5801,7502,190,821
8 months ending August, 19214,907,1742,526,0228,540,0723,24026,440,048
8 months ending August, 19205,413,7812,835,4576,862,93128,82626,239,384

Horses slaughtered at all establishments, 175; Inspections of lard prepared at all establishments, 126,026,473 lbs.; compound and other substitutes, 29,823,542 lbs. Corresponding inspections for August, 1920: Lard, 96,527,453 lbs.; compound and other substitutes, 28,322,618 lbs.