CHAPTER V. 

 AMERICAN CATTLE MARKETS. 



The largest live-stock markets of the United States are 

 located in the central part of the country. With the West 

 and Central West on the one hand as the great breeding and 

 feeding ground, and with the East on the other as the chief 

 region of consumption, it is logical that the large markets 

 have a central location. Following are the fourteen largest 

 cattle markets and their receipts of cattle, including calves, 

 during 1918: 



I.Chicago.. ..4,447,689 8. Sioux City 817,593 



2. Kansas City 3,319,511 9. Denver 728,268 



3. Omaha. . . .1,993,366 10. Oklahoma City 690,109 



4. Fort Worth 1,665,009 11. Buffalo 667,671 



5. St. Louis 1,509,409 12. Pittsburg 522,683 



6. St. Paul 1,430,408 13. Indianapolis 504,190 



7. St. Joseph 869,888 14. Cincinnati 455,291 



Total 19,621,085 



The U. S. Bureau of Markets reports the total receipts of 

 cattle and calves at 53 markets during 1918 at 24,955,111. The 

 fourteen markets listed above received over 78 per cent, of this 

 total. 



From the above figures we see that the Chicago market is 

 the largest in the United States, in fact Chicago is the largest 

 cattle market in the world. In 1918, Chicago received 3,789,922 

 cattle and 657,767 calves, the largest year's receipts since 

 the opening of the yards in 1865. Cattle weighing 300 pounds 

 or less per head are classed as calves. The 3,789,922 cattle 

 received during 1918, if placed in a procession, allowing ten 

 feet of space for each animal, would form a line 7100 miles long. 

 Their total value was $463,038,180. Their average value per 

 head was $122. Their average weight was 941 pounds. Their 

 average price per cwt. was $13. The number of western range 

 cattle received at Chicago in 1918 was 434,300, the largest on 

 record. These cattle constituted about llyZ per cent, of all 

 cattle received. The total value of the calves was $14,400,162; 

 their average value per head was a little less than $22; their 

 average weight was 139 pounds; and their average price per cwt. 

 was a little less than $16. 



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