Big packers were bearish and very indifferent buyers, even at the sharp decline, leaving liberal holdovers each day. The week’s top at Chicago was $11, secured on early sessions for good lights and light butchers, but best sold at the close at $10.60, and bulk of good lights and light butchers sold at the week end from $10.30–$10.50. Bulk of good 220 lb.–300 lb. butchers closed at $9.75–$10.25. Such shipping orders as were filled called largely for the better grades of mixed packing, good, smooth, light weight sows and these failed to show the extreme decline apparent on other grades.
GOOD PIGS IN DEMAND.
Demand for good pigs at Chicago was broad and such sold readily all week, with bulk of good 100–130 lb. averages clearing from $9.50–$10.50. Saturday’s closing values on pigs were around 25¢ lower for the week. Stock pig prices, both at St. Paul and Missouri River markets declined 25¢–35¢, best strong weights selling at $10.25–$10.50 at St. Paul and Kansas City, respectively. Several shipments of good quality thin sows went to the country from St. Paul and Chicago for feeding purposes, costing $8–$9. The trade generally displayed considerable anxiety on account of the railway and coal strikes.
Sheep.—An oversupply of sheep at Jersey City at the week’s opening was the chief factor in further declines in prices following the declines late last week at Chicago and other western markets, but with aggregate slaughter falling considerably short of the week previous, the market made good recovery as the week’s trading progressed. Closing Chicago prices, compared with the week previous, were strong to 25¢ higher on fat native lambs, mostly 50¢ higher on cull natives, steady to 15¢ lower on fat western lambs, 35¢–50¢ lower on western feeding lambs, generally steady on light sheep and 25¢–50¢ lower on heavy sheep.
Subsequent to Monday when Jersey City had a full supply, the run of southeastern lambs was light and natives from other sections were in smaller supply than during the preceding week. The market-ward movement of range stock from the Northwest was of fair volume, although hampered to a certain extent by conditions arising from the strike of railway shopmen. Feeder demand was narrow at the week’s opening but declines then enforced attracted buyers subsequently and both fat and feeder lambs closed about 25¢ above the week’s low spot.
At the week end, choice western lambs were safely quotable up to $13 at Chicago, good Oregons, rather lightly sorted, selling up to $12.85, and best natives up to $12.75 straight, with bulk of natives at $12.50$12.60 and native culls mostly at $8–$8.50. Feeder buyers paid up to $12.50 for light and tidy weight Western feeder lambs, but a number of loads of heavy feeders sold during the week at $11.50–$11.75. Fat heavy ewes sold downward to $3, a few below $3.50 at the close, while fat light native and Western ewes reached $7–$7.25. Wethers and yearlings were virtually lacking. There was call for western yearling breeding ewes, with none offered and choice quotable to $11.50. Native yearling ewes were taken on breeder account up to $9.50–$9.75, twos to fours mixed up to $8–$8.75, with heavies and less desirable kinds on down to $6 and below, depending on age, weight, and quality.
Opening, July 31.—Beef steers, yearlings, butcher cows, and heifers at Chicago sold actively at strong to 25¢ higher prices, mostly 10¢–15¢ higher. Eleven loads of matured beef steers averaging 1,283 lbs.–1,694 lbs. topped at $10.60. Best long yearlings brought $10.50, bulk of beef steers $8.50–$10.15. Twelve loads of Canadian steers arrived, five loads going to stocker and feeder dealers at $5.75. Stockers and feeders displayed some strength.
Good butcher weight hogs gained 10¢–15¢ and closed firm at the advance. Top was $10.70 with bulk of desirable butchers at $9.90–$10.60. Activity of shippers, who absorbed around 10,000 head, lent zest and higher prices to the better grades. Mixed and packing grades opened higher, but lacking good competition closed steady to 150 lower, bulk of packing sows turning at $7.75–$8.60.
Fat lambs closed weak to 15¢ lower after a steady to strong start. Natives and westerns topped at $12.75, bulk of the natives bringing $12.25–$12.60 and bulk of the rangers $12.65. Feeding lambs at $12.35 downward were lower. Sheep held firm. Choice handy Montana ewes reached $7.50.
| STOCKER AND FEEDER SHIPMENTS. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week Ending Friday, July 28, 1922. | ||||
| Cattle and calves. | Hogs. | Sheep. | ||
| Market origin: | ||||
| Chicago | 4,077 | 17,432 | ||
| Denver | 4,368 | 286 | 241 | |
| East St. Louis | 3,317 | 836 | 492 | |
| Fort Worth | 1,406 | 170 | 1,369 | |
| Indianapolis | 908 | 192 | 772 | |
| Kansas City | 18,483 | 917 | 1,919 | |
| Oklahoma City | 2,996 | 120 | ||
| Omaha | 8,591 | 75 | 19,861 | |
| St. Joseph | 2,098 | 298 | 2,798 | |
| St. Paul | 13,441 | 1,169 | 883 | |
| Sioux City | 5,786 | 353 | 333 | |
| Wichita | 1,512 | 136 | ||
| Total | 66,983 | 4,552 | 46,100 | |
| Previous week | 47,627 | 5,140 | 34,919 | |
| Same week last year[[5]] | 28,747 | 2,161 | 41,592 | |
| State destination: | ||||
| California | 170 | |||
| Colorado | 1,374 | 286 | ||
| Illinois | 8,458 | 826 | 3,681 | |
| Indiana | 2,105 | 192 | 3,521 | |
| Iowa | 17,302 | 1,266 | 8,695 | |
| Kansas | 6,716 | 266 | 1,380 | |
| Kentucky | 487 | 366 | 1,202 | |
| Maryland | 101 | 310 | ||
| Michigan | 308 | 11,445 | ||
| Minnesota | 1,014 | 397 | 513 | |
| Missouri | 5,654 | 588 | 4,159 | |
| Montana | 493 | |||
| Nebraska | 14,942 | 75 | 9,417 | |
| New York | 48 | |||
| Ohio | 1,009 | 801 | ||
| Oklahoma | 735 | 120 | ||
| Pennsylvania | 3,894 | |||
| South Dakota | 837 | |||
| Tennessee | 36 | |||
| Texas | 901 | 270 | ||
| Virginia | 129 | 411 | ||
| West Virginia | 59 | 121 | ||
| Wisconsin | 323 | 174 | ||
| Wyoming | 58 | |||
| Total | 66,983 | 4,552 | 46,100 | |