The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-08-05
Prices for Beef
Cattle Highest
All Glasses and Grad s
Have Participated in
Advance Since 1920.

when prices were on a high level be-
cause Of war imitation, according to
review of the spring cattle market is
sued by the bureau of agricultural
economics, United States Department
Of Agriculture. All classes and grades
of cattle have participated in the adj
vance, the general price increase
over last year and the five-year aver
age ranging from IL to q per cent.
The present comparatively high
price level for the better grades of
fed steers is unusual for this season
Of the year, says the bureau, and is
attributed partly to the fact that re-
ceipts of all cattle at the principal
corn-belt and eastern markets were A
per cent smaller during the first four
months of this year than during the
same period last year. There was
considerably larger decrease at some
Of the markets, particularly those re-
ceiving high proportion Of fed cat
tie. The premium for weight also has
been a factor in raising the average
price for the better grades of fed
steers.
slaughtering Was Less.
During each of the past five years
production for the first four months
exceeded that for the same period a
year previous, but this year proved
to be an exception. Beef produced
from cattle slaughtered under federal
inspection during the first four months
of this year was per cent less than
was produced in the same period Of
1926. Most Of the decrease occurred
IN March and April The live cost Of
these cattle to slaughterers for the
four months averaged $S.0S against
$40 in 1926, an advance of 8 per
cent over last year, or IA per cent
over the fve-year average. The long
time trend in cattle slaughter has
been upward, especially the number
Of head slaughtered under federal in
spection and the quantity of beef
which moves into commercial chan
nels.
The generally higher average prices
for slaughter cattle during the past
few years have been accompanied by
increased total and per capita con-
sumption of beef. indicating an in
creasing consumptive demand for this
product. With total beef consumption
increasing in population, with con-
sumers adjusted to the heavy beef
consumption of the last few years,
and with the present trend Of poten-
tial supplies downward, the outlook
for the industry appears very favor
able.
The strong demand for stocker cat
tie the past spring was reflected in
an increased movement of such cattle
out of southern areas. During the
first four months of this year, cattle
receipts at southern markets increased
10000 head or % per cent over the
same period last year. Also the high
er price for the lower grades of cat
tie has increased the receipts of such
cattle at the small corn-belt markets.
The decrease, while small as to total
numbers, amounted to II per cent.
Period of overproduetion.
The cattle industry for a number
of years has been passing through a
period of overproduction which has
resulted in curtailment, liquidation,
heavy market receipts, and conse--
quently a high slaughtering ratio to
numbers remaining on farms and
ranges. This has temporarily in
creased the tendency to market cattle
at younger ages, resulting in a more
rapid turnover. With the present
trend away from the production of
aged grass steers our beef supply de-
ponds more on the feeder.
The higher price level for cattle
may possibly be accompanied by some
further culling and liquidation of
range herds this fall, but we are ap-
preaching the end of the period of
overmarketing and, except for forced
marketings because of drought con-
ditions, the number of cattle forced
OU tie SlduSutSI luuAhSI Will Dc llluLl-
ed. Prices in western areas have in
creased more proportionately than
have prices at the central markets.
Breeding animals and growing stock
are in ''strong hands," and with avail
able pasture or range, excessive mar
ket supplies of range cattle for sew
eral years seem doubtful.
The total number of all cattle and
calves in the II western states has de-
clined about l per cent since 1920. and
the total for the United States has de-
clined 1615 per cent. While it is impos-
sibe to make any definite segregation
between dairy and beef cattle, beef
cattle in the West seem to have de-
creased fully % per cent during the
past seven years.