Miscellaneous. 



631 



Broad-backed Missouri beeves. 



CATTLE. 



In reviewing the 1913 cattle market the Daily National 

 Live Stock Reporter of January 1, 1914, said: 



All classes, from the prime and fancy heifers down to the common light kinds, were in 

 favor with the buyers. And in the face of unprecedented market irregularities average 

 prices soared away above the 1912 average. The year's top load of heifers brought $9.65, 

 and at the best time it took only a choice grade of heifers to make $9 or better. The average 

 bulk of desirable heifers was $6.94 to $8.13, as compared with $5.40 to $6.66 in 1912. 



The average bulk of beef steer sales during 1913 is higher than that of 1912, this, how- 

 ever, being in a measure accountable for by the fact that the beef steer crop in 1913 was 

 fed on the corn yield of 1912, which was one of the largest and best quality yields ever pro- 

 duced. The average daily beef steer top for 1913 was $8.87, as compared with $9.10 for 

 1912, but again there were fewer fancy cattle marketed here — last year, like 1912, drouth 

 hampering the finishing of cattle which had they been fed out undoubtedly would have 

 brought high prices. The average bulk of native beef steer sales for 1913 was $7.54 to 

 $8.65, as compared with $7.10 to $8.32 in 1912. The Christmas cattle trade was somewhat 

 of a disappointment, but at that the top last year was the same as 1912, viz., $10. 



The year just closed was the banner year for yearling steers, as a load of them brought 

 the year's top, wliich was $9.80, and several bunches sold at $9.75. Heavy steers were 

 rather unpopular throughout the year, and consequently no high prices were realized on 

 these kinds, although 1,700 to 1,900-pound beeves brought $8.50 to $8.75. 



Best grades of beef cows throughout the year sold well above $7, and a price of $8 was 

 the year's high mark. The average bulk of beef cow prices in 1913 was $5.31 to $6.60, as 

 compared with $3.77 to $5.71 in 1912. 



Coincident with the advance in prices on killing cattle during 1913 came an upward 

 trend of values on stockers and feeders. The trade on those classes during the year just 

 closed was remarkable in divers ways. The first six months of the current period the trade was 

 at its zenith both in the volume of dispositions and prices which the stock commanded. Dur- 

 ing these months the shipments to country points of stock and feeding cattle showed an 

 increase of approximately 81 per cent over the same time in 1912. Average prices for feed- 

 ers at this market in 1913 were the highest on record. 



There was a good reason for this, however. Probably the most apparent incentive 

 to the feeding of cattle was the banner corn yield of 1912, when the production was one of 

 the largest in the history of the corn belt. Cattle feeders were able to secure the best grade 

 of corn for a small cost, and while some had been fed out through the winter, yet there was 



