Evening star., 1925-01-03
EGGS TOSTAY HIGH
IN COMING YEAR
Present Corn and Wheat
Prices Will Make Profit
Margins Close.
BY j. c. ROELE.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, January 3.-Hens are
going to be called upon to attend
more strictly to business the coming
year and even then it is probable
lean breakfast table will cost more
than in 1924. Egg production did not
live up to its reputation in the last
year, although there We're more
chickens on the farms when the
period started than ever before.
On the LIST of last January the
chicken population numbered 474,0o0,-
900. an increase of 80 per cent since
1920. This trend toward enlargement
of focks was furthered by the desire
of farmers to diversity their products.
Owners and dealers not only counted
their chickens before they were
hatched. but the eggs before they
were laid. A record production was
forecast and prices held very low
since storage men were reluctant to
buy. having lost money for the two
previous years on their holdings.
Low Prices Paid Farmers.
The oversupply never arrived. how
ever. The cold, unfavorable Spring
cut down production and receipts at
storage warehouses totaled only
l4113456 cases Moreover, holdings
dropped a million and quarter cases
in the early Winter, as compared with
1928. Prices ran about the same as
in that year, averaging 25.6 cents at
the farm, compared with 2o6.
Premium prices. however. were paid
for eggs of superior quality and this
new quality basis tended to stabilize
the industry to a greater extent than
ever before.
A good many farmers got dtsgusted
with the efforts Of their hens and dis
posed of them, but there was no flood
of fowls coming to market. Receipts
Of dressed poultry were very light
during the Summer, but increased
rapidly during the Fall and early
Winter, and when the new year ap-
preached there were about 100000
pounds more dressed poultry on hand
than al the corresponding time last
year.
Some severe Losses.
The spread of disease among the
ffocks in some sections. which was
followed by embargoes from many
markets. checked shipments to a con-
siderable degree, and resulted in some
severe losses. Prices in many of the
leading markets maintained a level
as high as that or 1873, ana tnere is
evidence that good figures will obtain
in the early months of this year.
The increase in the prices of poultry
feed is expected to affect the market
and while chickens are responding
well to their feeds. and putting on
relatively more flesh for their rations
than other live stock, dealers will
have 70 pay more attention to egg
production per hen to keep the
chickens on the right side of the road
to profits. -
Cost of Feed High.
In relation to prices OF poultry,
eggs and hogs. corn prices are ex-
tremely high. Not only do farmers
prefer to sell their corn for cash at
present levels rather than feed poul-
try and hogs with a ration costing
well over $1.10 a bushel, but more
corn is required to produce the same
nutriment value than when the
quality was better and included less
moisture.
1t is even more difficult to see how
the poultry men can afford to buy
wheat near the 81 mark to feed
chickens selling at present prices. If
demand does not keep prices up, it is
probable that a large number of hens
will be sold before midyear. This
will tend to keep down egg produc-
ton and sustain egg prices, although
it will have an opposite effect on
far