Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-02-15
Meat Progresses
Toward Normal

w dsiiIilSt ION, rep. l4-prOgreSS to-
ward normal conditions in the meat
industry was made during last year,
the annual review of the fresh meat
industry of the Department of Agri-
culture declares. 1t says that all
though industrial disturbances some
What hampered the manufacture and
distribution OF meat products and re-
duced consumption. nevertheless in
creased employment Of the industrial
population and marked activity in
the building trades had a stimula-
ting effect on meat trade. This i'm
provement became more and more
evident as the year progressed. bus
mess in October, 922, being reported
as the heaviest for any single month
in two years.
The lowered purchasing power of
the currency of some European
countries which are ordinarily large
importers of meats from this cOun-
try tended to curtail our exports
somewhat. All things considered.
however the volume of foreign trade
in meats was maintained surprising
ly we'll.
A feature of the export trade was
the movement of an experimental
shipment of pork products from Chi
cago to Liverpool in less than eight
days. Throughout the journey this
shipment was given preferential
treatment, Vet the rapidity with
which it was made. compared with
the two weeks or more usually re-
Quired, indicated great possibilities
in enabling packers in this country
to compete ON more even terms with
those countries which have the ad-
vantage OF being close to European
markets.
Despite increased production of all
classes of meat. except lamb and
mutton, cold storage holdings during
1922 averaged considerably lower
than during the preceding year.
Inspected slaughter of cattle in the
United States for 1922 amounted to
S,677,S07 head. compared with 1905, :
$50 head for 1921, an increase of L.
069,527 head, or slightly more than
II per cent. The increase was divid-
ed about equally between beef re-
ceived from western packing centers
and that produced by local slaught-
ering establishments.
Although supplies showed a gain
over the, preceding year. demand
failed to improve sufficiently to
maintain prices at the 1921 levels.
The average price of good and med
ium steer beef at four markets, Bos-
ton. New York, Philadelphia and
Chicago. for 1922 was 20 cents lower
per 100 lbs. than for the preceding
year.
Calves slaughtered under Federal
inspection in the United States
amounted to 4.1S1,569 head, COM
pard with 3.S07.56S for 1921, an in
crease of 374,001 or 9.S per cent. Sup
plies at the three eastern markets,
including both western dressed re-
ceipts and local slaughter. increased
about So per cent over 1921, the to-
tails for 1922 being 1,7G5,G14 carcass
eS.
Veal prices showed the usual fluc-
tuations.
In contrast with increases in other
class of live stock. inspected slaught-
err of sheep and lambs in the United
States for 1922 decreased approx
imately 15.9 per cent. compared with
1921. This slaughter totaled 1925
941 head in 1922. compared with 49,
004,905 during 1921, a decrease of
2,015,964 animals.
Decreased supplies Of lamb and
generally active market resulted in
considerably higher prices than those
of 1921.
Inspected slaughter Of hogs during
1922 was approximately 10 per cent.
greater than during 1921. The 1922
figure of 43,103629 compared with
3S,9S2356 for 1921 representated an
increase of 4.121.273 carcasses, or
about 700,600,O0O lbs.
Increased supplies, however, were
accompanied by lower average prices.