MEAT TRAFFIC.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2648, 2 October 1882, Page 3

MEAT TRAFFIC.

The United Stales export trade in Hvo stock ond fresh mo .! has been made the subject of an article in “ Bradstreet’s ” (Now York) of July Ist, from which wo tske the following particulars:—"For several weeks the price of beef suited for the British markets has been too high to permit exports of the seme. Under the influence of reduced rates this trade promises to reopen. The outlook now is that it will gradually resume its former proportions. Last week one firm which had ceased to ship begun again, ond propose to send forward another consignment before adv’ess are received as to the results of the first consignment. Another firm are ready to send off a lot of beef, encouraged so to do by the sensible reduction in the nrice of beef on the P -iladelphia and New York markets. The outside price is now 8d per pound for the very best corn fed steers, and excellent still fed herds can be bought at 6id to 7ii par pound net weight. Or.o herd—average weight 1121 pounds per head — sold on live weight at 3|d per pound. Grass-fed steers sell at 5Jd to 61 per pound, an-i Spanish herds at 4J-i to 5Jd per pound. The recent scarcity of good quality beeves is dir, not alone to the depletion of herds, as stated in a previous issue, but to the high price of corn; and, now that other feed is obtainable, prices are steadily declining, so that before many days a resumption of the expert trwde in dressed beef ia certain. Sheep and lambs are lower in price this year than they wore last year. This shows that there is no actual scarcity of butcher*’ moats throughout the Union,' but that herds of choice quality are scarce. No matter how plentiful grass-fed steers may be, there is always a steady demand for corn-fed cattle. At themoment the butcher* take most readily steer* that will drees at 6J-d to 7£d per owt., ns beef heavier than those weights suffers from the extreme heat more than does beef of moderate thickness. This i* favorable for exporters, who as a rule, take off the ohoiceat herds on markets —entirely so when the animals are shipped alive, and generally when dreseod buef is forwarded. One herd had reached Jersey yards Monday last from Montana. The animals were coarse and lean, and their av rage weight was 900ib gross. Tney sold at 4Jd per lb, to dress fifi'.b net, giving actual weight of scwt 41b. This will eoive os an example of the gross-fed herds of the West. One held f-om Virginia, and of quality suited for the British market, sold at 741 per lb, and dressed cwt net, on 571 b allowance; estimated value ia Glasgow or London, £3l ss. Taking 6d par lb as the current rets to pay expenses, there would remain the value of the hide and the trimmings." Au Indian Territory paper states that up to the 30th ult. something over 135,000 head of cattle passed up the trail. Immense herds are reported coming from Missouri, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and the Western territories. A few sales are announced at £4 Us Si per head for three-year-old steers. The overage price is 9i 4id per 1001b* of lire weight.