The daily star-mirror., 1923-07-03
MEAT INDUSTRY
NEARLY NORMAL
Progress During Last Years
Shown in Report of DEPART
ment of Agriculture.
FOREIGN TRADE STANDS WELL
Despite Increased Production of All
Meats, Except Lamb and Mutton,
Cold Storage Holdings Were
Smaller.

aSnlngtOn.-Pr0gresS toward nor
mai conditions in the meat industry
was made during last year, the annual
| review OF the fresh meat industry of
| the department of agriculture declares.
IL says that although Industrial dis
turbances somewhat hampered the
manufacture and distribution of meat
products and reduced consumption,
nevertheless, increased employment of
the industrial population and marked
activity in the building trades had a
stimulating effect on meat trade This
Improvement became more and more
evident as the year progressed, busi-
ness IN October, 1922, being reported
as the heaviest for any single month
In two years.
The lowered purchasing power of
the currency of some European coun-
tries which are ordinarily large i'm
porters of meats from this country
tended to curtail our exports some
what. All things considered, however,
the volume Of foreign trade in meats
was maintained surprising well.
+ aSt Fork shipments.
feature of the export trade was
the movement of an experimental ship
ment OF pork products from Chicago
to Liverpool in less than eight days.
throughout the journey this shipment
was given preferential treatment, yet
the rapidity with which it mas made.
compared with the two weeks or more
usually required, indicated great pos
slbilities in enabling packers in this
country TO compete on more even
terms with those countries which have
the advantage of being close to Euro
pean markets.
Despite increased production of all
classes OF meat, except lamb and NUT
ton. cold storage holdings during 1922
averaged considerably lower than dur
ing the preceding year.
Inspected slaughter of cattle in the
United States for 1922 amounted to s. |
677, ,SO7 head, compared with 7,60S,2S0 |
head for 1921, an increase of 1869, ,527 !
head, or slightly more than Il per !
cent. The increase was divided about !
equally between beef received from
western packing centers and that pro-
duced by local slaughtering establish
ments
Lower Prices Recorded.
Although supplies showed gain over
the preceding year, demand failed to
improve sufficiently to maintain prices
at the 1921 levels. The average price
of good and medium steer beef at four
markets-Boston, New York, Philadel-
phia and Chicago-for 1922 was 70
cents lower per 100 pounds than for
The preceding year.
Calves slaughtered under federal in
spection in the United States num-
1ered 4,181,56S head, compared with
1907 ,56S for 1921, an increase of 374,-
)01, or 9.8 per cent. Supplies at the
hree eastern markets, including both
western dressed receipts and local
increased about 5.3 per cent
,ver 1921, the totals for 1922 being
-,765,614 carcasses.
Veal prices showed the usual fluc-
uations.
In contrast with increases in other
lass of live stock, inspected slaughter
# sheep and lambs in the United
states for 1922 decreased approximate
y 15.9 per cent, compared with 1921.
This slaughter totaled 10,92S,941 head
n 1922, compared with 13,0O4,9O5 dur
ng 1921, decrease of 2,075,904 ami
nals.
Decreased supplies Of lamb and q
active market resulted In
higher prices than those
t 1921.
Inspected slaughter of hogs during
022 was approximately 10 per cent
reater than during 1921. The 1922
gure Of 43, ,629. compared with 88,-
81, 1853 for 1921, represented an in
rease of 4,121, ,273 carcasses, or about
pounds.
Increased supplies, however, were
ccompanied by lower average prices.