The New York herald., 1922-03-26
MEAT EXPORTS WILL
TOTAL HALF BILLION
Our Bill to Europe This Year
Will Be Nearly Double
That for 1921.
CEREALS FALLING OFF
Increase in Meat Consumption
Applies Especially to
Pork.
CEREALS FALLING OFF
Special Dispatch TO THE New YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau
WaSbiurfnn. n March


New York Herald Bureau
Washington, ID. c., March 25
Approximately s500,000.000 worth OF
beef. pork and other meat grown in
western States and packed in middle
western plants Will be consumed in
foreign countries during 1922, it is esti-
mated by government experts
Europe is eating more and more meat,
dairy products and cheese. according. 10
reports to the Department of Com
merce, This means much to the Ameri-
can live stock industry, now in straight
ened circumstances.
For England alone beef imports are
80 per cent above the average from
1910 10 1914, Commerce Department
officials found in a recent analysis Of
British trade figures. The United States
supplies large proportion of the roast
beef of Old England"
The English also are importing IS
per cent. more English mutton chops
and mutton, and 81 per cent more
cheese than in the pre-war period. At
the same time a very sharp reduction
is reported for the imports of wheat and
corn
France. Italy and other European ma
tions are reported to be speeding up
like England on meat consumption and
apparently reducing the consumption Of
vegetables.
1921 Was Disappointing.
During 1921 approximately s250,0o0,-
900 worth of Anserican meat was
shipped abroad. This was disappoint-
ing total for farmers and meat packers
alike. 1t was especially unfortunate be-
cause Of the fact that meat consumption
in the United States is much below the
pre-war average. During 1921 there was
consumed only 144.S pounds per capita
for the entire United States. In 1908
the consumption was in excess OF 10
pounds per capita.
Tn the United States and also in Eur
rope the war brought decrease in meat
eating. The entire world found it could
get along not only with less meat. but
also with less food of all kinds. After
the war economic depression tended to
restrict food consumption to the very
lowest necessary standard. This was
partly because habits Of thrift gained
during the war were not easily discard
ed, according to studies OF the situation
made by Government officials. 1t was
also partly because there was less money
VIII WHICH 10 Duy. some medical lll-
quries were made to determine whether
the world was not being undernourished.
The question was raised as to whether
the next generation would not feel the
enects OF underfeeding of the present.
Now. however. the worlds principal
nations appear to be going back to the
pre-war standards of feeding, according
10 the Commerce Department reports
Increase I'm Pork.
The Increase in meat consumption is
especially noticeable with respect to
pork. circumstance most fortunate foS
the United States, il is pointed out.
.England's pork imports during 1921
were l3 per cent. in excess of the pre-
war period, while her lard demand in
creased q per cent. Part Of this in
crease is due, Of course. to the increase
in population since before the war. But
1t also results from an increased con-
sumption per capita, officials believe
American farmers just now are trying
TO build UP their hog population over
night-so TO speak. Pork prices are adj
vancing and corn is plentiful owing to
record crops in 1921 and 1920. 1t takes
about IL bushels of corn to make 100
pounds OF pork. For 100 pounds of pork
eHe idIiHei receives Oil. IHat means his
corn is worth "on the hoof' about 81
bushel or more than it will bring when
marketed in the ordinary way.
Hogs grow to market maturity more
quickly than any other form of stock
Every American farmer is trying to in
crease the number of his hogs, according
to reports to Washington.
Unless pork consumption continues to
increase in the United States and
throughout the world American farmers
will suddenly find themselves with an
"overpopalation" of hogs, they are be-
inc uarnad