1905.] Live Weight Prices of Cattle. 



73i 



In spite of a considerable decline in the number of cattle returned 

 as weighed at Perth, the total for Scotland, viz., 94,771, was larger 

 than in the previous year, and represented 3471 per cent, of the 

 cattle entering the Scottish markets, as compared with only 

 777 per cent, in the case of England. At two English markets 

 — Birmingham and Bristol — the returns fail to indicate any use 

 of the weighbridge during the year, while at others, as will be 

 seen from the table on page 730, it was only resorted to in a few 

 instances. 



The number of weighed cattle for which prices with quality dis- 

 tinguished were furnished was 1 19,95 l > as compared with 123,946 

 in 1903. From these recorded prices, so far as they relate to fat 

 cattle, the average values per cwt. realised for first and second 

 quality animals in Great Britain have been compiled for 1904, 

 and are compared with preceding years in the following table : — 





Prime or First Quality. 



Good or Second Quality. 



Years. 



Number. 



Price per 

 Cwt. 



Number. 



Price per 

 Cwt. 



1898 ... 



36,898 



s. d. 

 33 8 



45,854 



s. d. 

 31 10 



i899 



43»448 



35 6 



37,964 



33 4 



1900 



43,905 



37 0 



36,779 



34 10 



1901 



41,126 



36 0 



39,903 



34 2 



1902 



50,755 



38 0 



36,838 



35 10 



1903 



46,153 



36 4 



40,592 



34 4 



1904 .... 



41,798 



35 10 



44,485 



33 6 



It will be seen that in 1904 the average price of both qualities 

 was rather lower than in the previous year and considerably lower 

 than in 1902, being, indeed, rather below the prices for igoi in 

 prime cattle and only slightly above the figures of 1899 f° r 

 second quality. 



Following the course of prices month by month throughout 

 the year, it will be seen from the table given below that there 

 was much less uniformity than in 1903. During that year there 

 had been a regular decline from the high prices of 1902, and the 

 comparatively low level reached at the close of the year was still 



