The St. Johns herald., 1922-10-12
CONFERENCE WORKS OUT PLANS
 ON THE MARKETING OF LAMBS
CPrepared by the United States Department |
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(Prepared by the United States Department
 of Agriculturel
 Plans for the more orderly market Ing of native lambs at Jersey City and New York city, and the elimination of violent fluctuations in prices of live and dressed lambs at these markets, are to be worked out by a committee representing live stock commission men, slaughterers, retailers, railroads, stock yard companies at Jersey City and New York, eastern lamb producers and the United States Department of Agriculture.
 This committee was appointed as result of the conference called rece ntly by the United States Department of Agriculture, at Jersey City. At this conference members of the trade rep reSenting the various interests en- gagged in the handling, marketing, slaughterlng and retailing of lambs at Jersey City and New York met repre- sentatives of sheep and lamb pro- ducers and the department. Practical Iy all the factors responsible for the wide fluctuatiOn In lamb prices at Jer- sey City during certain periods were brought out by full discussion.
 The conference developed the fact that the lamb problem at Jersey City Is a production and marketing prob lem combined, and that its solution lies largely In the hands of the pro- ducers and slaughterers of native lambs, although live stock commission men and retail meat dealers can assist In remedying the situation.
 Occupies Key Position,
 Jersey City occupies a key position In the channel of distribution between the lamb producers and the largest center of consumption, inasmuch as 1t Is the final public concentration point for live lambs destined for New York city, the greatest consuming center for dressed lamb In the United States and a market that requires a high-grade product,
 It was shown that ordinarily Jersey Clty has a reputation of being the highest lamb market in the country, but that during June, July and August It suffers violent price fluctuations be cause of the big increase in receipts of native lambs from Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, PennSylva- mia, Michigan and New York, without any material decrease in the supply of live and dressed lambs received there and at New York city from Western points. The situation Is complicated by the marked irregularity in the vol ume of the daily receipts during those months and by the inferior quality of the offerings, most of which arrive un- sorted and ungraded.
 It was brought out that the poor quality of these lambs is due largely to the failure of producers to use bet ter breeding stock and proper feeding methods and to dock and castrate their lambs at the proper time. The fact that native lambs in so many in- stances become infected in the sum- mer months with diseases of parasitic origin, particularly stomach worms, makes 1t very important that they be marketed before the milk fat diSap- pearA
 These lambs usually are dropped at a period which requires that they be marketed during the months of Juner July and August, hence they are a perishable produce from a marketing standpoint. When they reach Jersey City in larger numbers than the de mand can absorb, and come in com petition with the high-grade live and dressed Western lambs, prices break sharply and affect the lamb market generally at all points. Declines in the dressed market often are more drastic than those In the live market
 Better Breeding Stock Urged.
 It was agreed at the conference that producers of native lambs should use better breeding stock; supply am- ple feed both to the ewes and lambs for maximum gains in order to mar lzet the lambs before they become in fested with parasites, and practice docking and castratiOn.