The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-05-14
MEAT DEMANDS
TO BOOST PRICES
PACKERS DECLARE
European Cattle Losses With
Millions More to Feed Is
Problem Which Must Be
Solved in America.


CHICAGO, May 1.-THE American
Meat Packers association, through its
bureau OF public relations, has Issued
the following statement regarding pres
ent meat prices and the probable trend
in the future. The associations mem
nership includes large small pack
ers:
The situation today in the meat in
dustry is just about what Herbert
Hoover and other food administration
officials said it would be, as far back
as the first OF the year" says the
statement.
That high prices are caused largely
by heavy demands rather thar n con-
troll aimed to stimulate production has
recently been illustrated very clearly
In the case OF hogs. When the mini
mum price fixed for hogs was removed,
the food administration predicted that
the prices might go still higher, The
prediction is now being verified.
High prices will continue for a
long m Each day that brings final
prices nearer mean a greater call on
this country for meat. The supply Of
meat Is dependent first Of all on the
supply. Of live stock, European herds
nave been reduced by war. 70 that
extent, world production of live stock
is crippled,
Live stock on farms In the United
States at the beginning OF this year
exceeded the number at the beginning
OF 1918 by l,oS6, 900 cattle, 4,213, 900 hogs
and 800, 900 sheep,
But the armistice, instead Of hav.
ing reduced the demand for meat, has
given us more than 200, O00, 900 add.
tional mouths to feed, either wholly or
in part. AS shipping becomes avail
able, an increasing number Of hungry
nations will be accessible for provision
ing,
Hogs Falling Off.
Great numbers of meat animals
have been dressed since the first OF the
year. Hogs are now coming into
American markets in dwindling quanti-
ties and In lesser numbers than a year
age, Yet pork products must form a
large part Of our exports. The price
OF hogs remains high.
statistics now available as to the
erect of wal on foreign herds indicate
that swine in Italy have decreased from
z ,SoS, 600 In 1908 TO 1870, 900 In 1918; In
France from IoSIooo in 1918 to 4,16s,-
goo n 1917; in Germany from Is, 592, 900
United Kingdom from $1,000 90 in 1914
to 2,44S,0o0 in 1918; In Denmark from
2,4s7 900 in 1914 to 5l3, 900 in 1918, and
IN the Netherlands from 1850. 900 In
1913 to 1,1S5,000 in 1917, Germany
sucked meat animals out Of the coun-
- Nv pNtuBltut dtCuTulnR 10 MI.
Hoover. Belgium lost a third OF her
hogs and more than three-fourths OF
her cattle, Cattle decreased severely
In many other countries.
Before the. war England imported
% per cent OF her bacon. About half
OF the imported bacon came from
American and the other half from Den
mark and Holland.
But during the war a shortage of
feedstuffs left the swine herds OF Hol.
and and Denmark just adequate for
domestic supplies, These countries
can not resume export until they obtain
The numbers OF liberated people
who were inaccessible before hostilities
ceased, but whom the United states
now will help to feed, include, accord
ing to a very recent statement by Mr..
hoover. nearly 1900, 900 In Belgium,
-, o0V, 600 in Poland, 10, 900, 900 In
1900, 900 or l3,000, 900 In Greater siberia
and 20, o0o, 900 in Finland, Armenia and
other counties.
This takes no account of the food
being sent into the central empire in
ORDER to avert anarchy and govern
mental insolvency.
Mr.. Hoover estimates German shin
PING, around 10000, 900 tons. This will
gradually become available for food
cargoes. AS II does, a larger and larg-
er part Of the demand for food can Be
reached. ~
The brunt of meat export and pro.
duction will be borne BY the IJnited
States, South America and Australasia.
Live stock In Argentina has not in.
creased as much as one could wish
Australian herds, hurt some time afo
bS drought, are now being %replenished
our own live stock has not increased
commensurately with foreign needs,
I'm countries WHORE diurrdAn a. -.
raging there Is a tendency for peas
ants not to market their products,
Inc whole situation for some time
to come. then, probably will be one in
which the demand for live stock and
ITS products greatly exceed the supply,
This means that live stock will continus
70 nring nigh prices, Cheap bacon and
beef can not be made from expensive
hogs and costly cattle, any more than
ilve stock can be raised cheanly on
htgh-priced feedstuffs with expensive
labor,
How keen is the foreign demand is
shown by the fact that when the Aus
trlan food bureau fixed minimum retail
prices effective In Vienna Jan. 1. IL set
ftrst-class beef as high as 81. 81. a
pound. 49,
III oNder comes out Of the Russian
chaos, the world demand will he stiil
further augmented. Horseflesh which
was selling in Moscow for half a cen,
a pound In 1914 is bringing $3.50 in
Low meat prices must wait until
European production is in good swlng
again. Meanwhile American farmers
and packers can only continue their
strenuous efforts and fun cooperation
with governmental agencies, to keer
production at the maximum and prices
at tho minimum possible"