The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1924-09-09
HIGHER MEAT PRICES
FORECAST BY EXPERTS
HOGS HAVE ADVANCED, AND
NEXT YEARS CROP MAY
BE MUCH SMALLER.
DROUGHT AFFECTS CATTLE
Large Portion of Ranges Are in Bad
Shape and Feed Costs for Winter
Will Be High. A Review of the Sit
uation as Seen Now.

Will Be High. A Review of the Sit
uation as Seen Now.
NEW YORK, N. Y.-Americans
who are instructed to bring home the
bacon" during the remainder of this
year probably will have to dig deeper
into their pockets for it this fall Hog
prices are up sharply, and this is ia
ken as indicating that the record
breaking receipts of 1928 and the first
half of 1924 are at an end. Shipments
to market from now on until New
Years are expected to be much lighter
than in 1928
1t was inevitable that the four rec
ord-breaking crops from 1920 to 1928
inclusive would be reflected in an
enormous increase in the output of
pork, since hogs furnished the most
profitable method for marketing corn.
1t has become evident, however, that
hog production has caught and passed
corn production and the raising of
hogs is on the decrease. This became
apparent with the pig crop of last fall,
which was about 7 per cent under that
of the preceding year. The report of
the rural mail-carrier survey showed
the spring pig crop fell off about 20
per cent.
Smaller Receipts Probable.
Since marketings for any year are
limited chiefly by the size of the pig
crops of the preceding spring and fall,
the outlook for the next II months
points to much smaller receipts at
markets than have been shipped in the
last II months. Some experts fix this
decrease as high as 20 per cent.
With the corn crop showing a de-
crease and the pig crop lower, the
proportion of corn to hogs in the next
annual period seemingly would be
about the same as last year were it
mot for the amount of soft corn likely
to result from late planting and un-
favorable weather during the growing
season.
Soft corn does not put fat on hogs
like hard corn and, therefore, very
considerable reduction in the average
weight of hogs marketed would not be
surprising. Higher prices are forecast
| for pork by meat experts, but they
are not so certain, they say, that this
will result in higher gross income
from the sale of hogs.
Value Estimated at $875,000,0OO.
One expert estimates gross receipts
for hogs from July, 1924, to July, 1925,
at $875, 100000. The receipts for the
year ending July, 1924, were $86O,000,-
900, or an increase of per cent to
the farmer
When it comes to cattle and sheep
and the prices which must be paid for
the sirloin steak and the succulent
lamb chop, many of the price factors
are conflicting. There have been per-
sistent rumors that many herds from
the range country will be forced on
the market, but this is not supported
| by government figures on live stock
population on the ranches or by as
SCISSORS reports and dipping records.
Severe drought has affected some
western ranges and the certainty OF
high feed prices next winter may
cause liquidation from these areas.
Cattle Increase Doubtful.
In other sections pasture conditions
are very favorable, and Texas is well
stocked with young stuff. Meat men,
| however, express tne DSuCl dDOul lhS
same number OF cattle will arrive at
stock yards in the next year as in the
last. The amount of soft corn may en-
courage feeding this fall, but the adj
vance in grain prices and barrenness
OF some ranges will probably reduce
the demand for stockers and feeders
which in turn will make smaller the
number of well-fattened cattle.
The natural reflection from this
would be higher prices for choice cuts
and the higher prices and smaller sup
[ plies of pork would tend to increase
the demand for the commoner grades.
There is no threat of overproduction
in the sheep industry, although hlgh
lamb prices have prevailed since l9Zz.
But fully as many lambs may be ex-
nected on the market in the next II
months as were received in the past
In general, it is the conclusion that
the meat situation for the coming
wear will be moderately encouraging
| for the producers, but the reduced
poundage marketed and the higher
level of prices may be expected to
! have an equally strong effect on the
consumers pocketbook, but in the OPP
posite direction.
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