45 



be handled more profitably. Steers put on feed the latter part 

 of February or the first of March have two chances, for if the 

 market is not good after 100 or 120 days feed, say, in June or 

 July, they may be fed on for August and September markets 

 to good advantage. We also find that heavy weight half fat 

 steers weighing 1,100 to 1,200 pounds can be put on feed Sep- 

 tember ist and 1 marketed during the first half of January to 

 good advantage. This enables short fed cattle to strike a good 

 market and bring a good price. 



4. Outside of the Christmas market, we think the best 

 demand for fancy beeves is in September, October and Novem- 

 ber. 



5. Well matured cattle weighing 1,400 to 1,500 pounds are 

 the best sellers throughout the year, taking one year with an- 

 other. 



6. There is not such a wide variation in the price of 

 strictly fancy cattle during any of the months. 



7. As intimated before, the most popular cattle with buy- 

 ers one season with another, are well finished choice yearlings 

 and cattle weighing 1,350 to 1,500 pounds." 



John Alexander, of Alexander, Ward & Conover, Live Stock 



Commission Merchants, Chicago: 



"i. The demand is not considered so good in May and 

 June for thick fat heavy cattle as formerly, but I think that de- 

 pends entirely upon the supply, as about so many thick fat or 

 prime cattle can be used every month in the year to supply a 

 certain class of high-priced trade, which will not have anything 

 but thick loins. It frequently happens, however, that we get 

 more good thick fat, good weight, cattle in May and June than 

 in any other month of the year, and they do not sell so well in 

 proportion to other grades and people get the impression that 

 the demand is not so good. 



2. Average cattle, finished about as the average native 

 steer, will, one year with another, meet the best demand in 

 April, May and June, and frequently the demands in July, 

 August and September are just as good. 



3. The poorest season of the year in which to market 

 cattle of this class is October, November and December, as re- 



