) 



MARKET GRASS-FAT CATTLE NOW 

 By L. F. Stlce, Extension Marketing Specialist 



Under existing conditions fui^ther delay in marketing grass-fat cattle is not 

 advisable. Slaughter of cattle and calves is usually at a seasonally low level at about 

 this time of the year, and prices of grass-fat slaughter cattle and lower grades of 

 steers reach a seasonal peak (see charts below). 



This year with cattle numbers of farms at an all-time high of 82 million head 

 January 1, 19^^ > the movement of grass cattle to market will be heavy in the fall months 

 and is likely to come earlier than in 19^3. In fact, the low point in cattle slaughter 

 for 19^ probably occurred in the latter part of May and early June, whereas it was In 

 late June and early July last year (see charts). Prices of mediiam and coinmon slaughter 

 steers and of slaughter cows have already declined some but will undoubtedly go lower. 

 Generally, a wise policy is to market cattle which are not to be fed as soon as they are 

 grass fat. Whether or not gains on thinner cattle will offset the expected decline in 

 price is more or less an individual problem. 



Hc^i Slaughter of Cattle and Calves at 27 Markets, 1943 and 1944* 



(000) 



200 



150 



100 



y.^ 



\. 



1943 



Jan 



Feb, ?!ar, Apr, Kiay June July Aug, SeptTuct, Nov, Dec, 



200 



150 



100 



Dollars 

 per 

 cwt. 



15 



•Includes 32 markets beginning April, 1944 



Prices of Medium and Common Steers at Chicago and Normal Seasonal 



Variation from May Prices 



10 



Medium Steers 



Normal season 

 seasonal 



\ 



1944 



Dollars 

 per 

 cwt. 



15 



- Normal seasonal 



■ t w 1 J i,,.>.-J..U^ L^ 



J F M A M J J A S N D 



Common Steers 



10 1:;;.^ — ^ 



J F M A 



N D 



t 



