Milford chronicle., 1924-02-22


s, Idaho
no foreign trade in lamb and mutton
More lamb and mutton is eaten in the
Northeast and far western sections
than elsewhere. It's 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-
tiOn OF mutton in the United States in
the last thirty years. It is, however,
considerably lower than in many other
countries. Average annual per capita
consumption of lamb and mutton for
the ten-year period 1912-1921 in the
United States was 60 pounds. This
compares with a per capita consump-
tlon OF pounds in Canada in 1910;
26.7 pounds in the United Kingdom
from 1895 to 1908; pounds in France
IN 1904; and in Germany Of only %
pounds year for 19O4-1913.
In these periods the consumption Of
lamb and mutton in these countries
constituted the following percentages
Of tie total meat consumption: 4.35
per cent in the United States; 5.57
per cent for Canada; 22.25 per cent
Tor the United Kingdom; 11.25 per
cent for Frs1sce; 1.91 per cent for
Germany.
Thus it is evident that the problem
Of Increasing consumption in this cour-
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 tine hog producer. People
In this country perfer strictly fresh,
rather than frozen, lamb and mutton.
But mutton cannot be stored satlsfac-
tOrily without freezing for more than
a short time. 1t is therefore difficult
to move sheep from distant points of
production to consuming centers with
put deterioration. There is frequently
heavy loss through shrlnkage and
orher causes resulting from long hauls. r.
Extension Of the domestic market for -,
amb and mutton and improvements in
he method of supplying it are thus
Tital needs of the industry. t
Good Wool Demand Apparent.
Wool marketing is much easier. Y
Though the United States is the third q
ountry in wool production and has
reduced an average of 3OO,OOO,OOO :
'Ounds a year for the last thirty-ive n
ears, it has never met the home de- +,
land. Imports for some years prior
D the war averaged 2OO,OOO,OOO pounds. v
hey reached a peak at 453, ,727, 900 ii
Ounds in 1918. Probably a normal
nnual amount which must be import q
i is around 3OO,OOO,OOO pounds. Amer pl
AN sheepmen have therefore no need 10
be afraid Of OvershOOting the home "a
emand for wool. Since 1921 wool u
-ices have more than doubled. The ~
'Oblem Of selling wool is not to Gre %
e market but to take the best ad- NJ
lntage Of the one that exists. or
This has been attempted in the last hi
W years by considerable extension an
cooperative marketing. Great guam co
les of wool are now assembled an
tally by wool pools and held at CEN pr
al points for inspection by wool buy tic
s. Cooperation, however, has seen .
greatest development in the farm en-
ok regions. On the range, co-Opera- gil
e marketing is comparatively new, =
d affects only a small portion Of the 81; g..
'Ol sold by large ranching outfits.
has, however, achieved some sue z
IS. Results indicate that co-opera- l.
e selling stimulates competition
Ong buyers, facilitates businessItke =
nsactions, and tends to check over mos
ding of markets. Ma
The ratio of the number of sheen to n
,ulatiOn in the United States has de- Yol
led since 1884. From 1859 to 1903 the
re were about sheep for every 8 Eel
pie. Ten years later there were n
Y 4. From 1919 to 1923 there were mil
= 2.S sheep for every people, or laIl
ut 1-3 Of a sheep per person. New .ui
leless the total production Of wool 81. "
remained practically constant Ow- n
to increase in the weight of the Mo,
ces. Per capita consumption of viii
j has been maintained by great In Md.
ises in imports. C