WHEN TO MARKET 123 



must be prime in quality and finish. Hundreds of voung 

 cattle are annually shipped to the market that bring 

 prices which disappoint the feeder, and most frequently 

 because he has not made them fat enough. Taking the 

 year around the prices for baby beeves of quality and 

 finish will average well with those of older and heavier 

 cattle of same quality and condition. 



DEMAND FOR EXPORT CATTLE OTHER THAN AT 

 CHRISTMAS 



The most profitable time generally for feeders to 

 market export cattle at the Western markets (barring 

 Christmas time for that grade of export cattle) is winter, 

 spring, and early summer months. The reasons are 

 that during the late summer and fall months Canada 

 usually markets a good many grass cattle; also they use 

 more or less of the Northwest range cattle for export 

 trade, both dead and alive. Of course, the extent of 

 this latter depends upon the condition or fat of the 

 range cattle. As to the activity of the demand during 

 the different months or seasons of the year, that depends 

 to a considerable extent upon the foreign market and 

 their supply of cattle. Some years Canada has a heavy 

 supply of exports; then again it is moderate. The 

 dressed beef trade of the Argentine is increasing materi- 

 ally, and this is all having its effect upon the demand 

 for export cattle from this country. 



DEMAND FOR COMMON CATTLE 



Such cattle are usually best marketed from March 

 1 to June 1. They could not, however, be said to be 

 "out of season" any time from January 1 to July 1. 

 After July 1 they come in competition with the cheap 

 Western range cattle. 



