The patriot. (Glenmora, La.) 1918-1955, 1922-09-29
prepared by the United States Department
OF Agricultural

| prepared by the United States Department
Of Agriculture.)
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 a
| result of the conference called recently
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,
slaughtering and retailing of lambs at
sentatives of sheep and lamb pro-
ducers and the department. Practical
~ all the factors responsible for the
wide fiuctuatiOn 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 production and marketing prob
lem combined and that its solution
lies largely in the hands of the pro-
1nnnpS ell Of
lambs, although live stock commission
men and retail meat dealers can assist
in remedying the situation.
Occupies Key Position,
Jersey City occupies key position
in the channel of distribution between
the lamb producers and the largest
center of consumption, inasmuch as it
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
q market that requires a high-grade
product.
1t was shown that ordinarily Jersey
City has 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
lor
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.
1t 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
VA SlOliIdIA
makes it very important that they be
marketed before the milk fat disap-
pears.
These lambs usually are dropped at |
q period which requires that they be |
marketed during the months of June, |
July and August, hence they are a
perishable produce from marketing |
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 |
he dressed market often are more |
drastic than those in the live market. |
Better Breeding Stock Urged.
1t was agreed at the conference
hat producers of native lambs should
lse better breeding stock; supply am
lie feed both to the ewes and lambs
or maximum gains in order to mar
ret the lambs before they become in
ested with parasites, and practice
locking and castration.
1t was agreed, also, that producers
n the different areas should reach an
understanding which will lead to the
of the breeding and mar
letting period, and that they should
cooperate in their marketing In such
way as will insure grading and sort
ng in the country and more orderly
movement of lambs to market. In this
1t was suggested that the
ractice which appears to be general
y followed In certain states of con-
racting lambs 10 countrx layers for