Types and Market Classes of Live Stock 



141 



• No outlet, due to outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease and quarantine of the yards. 



From the standpoint of averages, it will be observed that the 

 price of a beef steer bears a constant relation to his weight, the heavier 

 the steer, the higher the price per cwt. This is due to the fact that 

 as a steer becomes older he fattens more easily; and in dealing with 

 groups of very large numbers of beef steers of different weights, all 

 factors determining value are equalized except the factor of fatness. 

 Between the average prices of 900-pound and 1,125-pound beef steers 

 there is a difference of 65 cents per cwt.; between 1,125-pound and 

 1,275-pound steers the difference is also 65 cents; between 1,275 and 

 1,425 pounds it is again 65 cents; and between 1,425 and 1,600 pounds 

 it is 55 cents. The sum of all these differences is $2.50, which is the 

 difference between the average prices of the lightest and heaviest 

 groups of beef steers. All beef steers together sell $3.40 higher than 

 butcher cows and heifers. Between stockers and feeders and beef 

 steers there exists a margin of $2.65 based on the Chicago figures. 

 Butcher stock sells $2.40 higher than cutters and canners. Veal calves 

 bring the highest price of any class, exceeding the price of beef steers 

 by $1.50. 



Highest and lowest monthly prices. — It is true of Chicago and of 

 the other large markets that beef steers are usually highest in price 

 in late August or early September. They are usually lowest about 

 the last of January or first of February. 



Highest prices for stockers and feeders are made in April and May, 

 which mark the opening of the pasture season. Lowest prices occur 

 in November and December, December being the lowest. 



Butcher cows an d heifers sell highest in May, and lowest in 

 November and December. 



