The L'Anse sentinel., 1924-02-08

the United States Experiment Station,
Idaho.
| no foreign trade in lamb and mutton.
| More lamb and mutton is eaten in the
Northeast and far western sections
than elsewhere. Its consumption Is
lowest in the South Atlantic, South
Central and North Central states.
Mutton Consumption Increases.
Improved methods of slaughter and
the development of artificial refrigera-
tion and refrigerated transportation
have greatly Increased the consump-
tlon of mutton In the United States in
| the last thirty years. Ii is, however.
| considerably lower than In many other
countries. Average annual per capita
consumption of lamb and mutton for
the ten-year period 1912-192l in the
United States was Co. pounds This
compares with per capita consump-
tion of pounds in Canada In 1910;
26.7 pounds in the United Kingdom
from 1895 10 1908; 8 pounds in France
| in 1904; and in Germany of only %
pounds year for 1904-19l3.
In these periods the consumption of
lamb and mutton in these countries
constituted the following percentages
OF TIE :ctal meat consumption: i.35
per cent in the United States; 5.57
per cent for Canada; 22.25 per cent
for the United Kingdom: 11.25 per
cent for Fra,,cc; 1.91 per cent for
Germany.
Thus il is evident that the problem
OF increasing consumption in this cours-
try Is an important one. Largely be-
cause of the dual character OF the
sheep industry, which requires a steady
market for both meats and wool, the
sheepman's marketing problems are
more difficult than those of either the
cattle or the hog producer. People
in this country perfer strictly fresh,
Iather than frozen. lamb and mutton.
But mutton cannot be stored satisfac-
torily without freezing for more than
short time. 1t is therefore difficult
to move sheep from distant points OF
production TO consuming centers with
out deterioration. There Is frequently
heavy loss through shrinkage and
other causes resulting from long hauls.
Extension OF .he domestic market for
lamb and mutton and improvements In
the method OF supplying 1t are thus
vital needs OF the industry.
Good, Wool Demand Apparent.
Wool marketing is much easier.
Though the United States Is the third
country in wool production and has
produced an average of 30O,0O0,000
pounds year for the last thirty-five
years, II has never met the home de-
mand. Imports for some years prior
to the war averaged 100000, 900 pounds.
They reached a peak at 453,727,0O0
pounds In 1918. Probably q normal
annual amount which must be import
ed is around 100000 pounds. Amer
lean sheepmen have therefore no need
to be afraid Of overshooting the home
demand for wool. Since 1921 wool
prices have more than doubled. The
problem of selling wool is not to ere
ate a market but to take the best adj
| vantage Of the one that exists.
This has been attempted In. the last
few years by considerable extension
Of cooperative marketing. Great quan-
titles Of wool arc now assembled an
nually by wool pools and held at cen
trail points for inspection by wool buy
ers. Cooperation, however, has seen
its greatest development In the farm
flock regions. On the range, co-opera'
tive. marketing is comparatively new
and affects only a small portion Of the
wool sold by large ranching outfits
j 1t has. however. achieved some sue
cess. Results indicate that co-opera
tive selling stimulates competition
among buyers. facilitates businesslikt
transactions, and tends to check over
loading of markets.
i The ratio of the number Of sheep {,
population in the United States has de
clined since. 1884. From 1899 to 190'
, there were about sheep for every
people. Ten years later there wer
. only 4. From 1919 to 1923 there 'wer
only 2.s sheep for every 8 people, o
, about 1-3 of sheep per person. New
ertheless the total production Of woo
/ has remained practically constant ow
: ing to increase in the weight of tn
! fieecess Per capita consumption o
4 wool has been maintained by great In
creases In imports.
!, Sudan Grass Is Annual