The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-11-12
COST OF MEAT MAY 60 DOWN
 BY Y1OPER CENT
Substantial Drop in Prices
 Not Likely Until Early Spring
BY FRED BAILEY Limited Press Staff CorrespOndent)

Limited Press Staff CorrespOndent)
 washington, Nov. l2 - tuP) - Meat prices will continue high un- til early next year and then prob- ably will begin a gradual decline, according to Department of Agri- culture market experts.
 The supply of cattle, hogs and sheep on farms is the lowest in many years. The amount of feed available per animal is the highest on record. Winter feeding of meat animals Is expected to be unusually heavy.
 Fail marketings will be smaller because of cheap feed and the desire of growers to fatten their livestock as much as possible, government economists believe. The result will be continued high prices at least through early win- ter.
 Farmers, also, will hold back more cattle, hogs and sheep for breeding. Increased meat produc- ton Is expected to be reflected in heavy marketing of fat animals in the late winter and early spring.
 Minor Recessions Probable
 Meanwhile, some minor recess sions in prices of meat to consun- CTS may be looked for as packers reduce storage stocks in anticipa- ton of heavy marketings early next year, economists said. Re- auctions range from 5 to 10 per cent.
 Cattle prices reached @ top of @10.00 per 100 pounds on the Chi cago market early this fall. This was the highest price paid since 1928. Top hog prices of $l3.75 on the same market were the highest since 1928.
 The number of cattle on feed in corn belt states on Aug. l was about 30 per cent smaller than q year earlier and the smallest for that date in many years, the de- partment reported.
 Well.Fed Cattle Scarce
 Marketing of well finished grain.fed cattle, therefore, will re- main smaller than usual during the remainder of this year" 1t was said. Prices of the better grades oe slaughter cattle probably will continue near present levels"
 The disposition of farmers to in- crease cattle feeding probably will lessen the usual seasonal decline in prices of the lower grades this fall and increase the supply of the better grades of grain-fed cattle in 1888. the department said.
 This years unusually large crop 'noints toward the beginning of aF increase in hog production the next year." the department said. However, an expected decrease in storage demands for hog products may result in prices of hogs de- clining about as usual this fall and early winter, 1t was said.
 Bigger Hogs Forecast
 "With hog production on the up- trend, Ynarketings during the next year will be reduced to provide plenty of breeding stock" the de- pertinent said. ITO market as much cheap corn as possible, In the form of high-priced pork, farmers will feed hogs to unusual ly heavy weights. Thus the de- crease in numbers of hogs mar keted will be partly offset by larg- or average weights"
 Lamb prices are expected to hold at about present levels the remainder of this year, marketing experts said. A price-supporting factor during the next three months will be strong demand for feeder lambs in the corn belt they said.
 Tt is expected" they said. "that because of this strong demand that prices of feeder lambs will be high in relation to prices of slaughter lambs, with little spread between the two.
 "since prospects for consumer demand indicate a higher leveI than last year, prices of fed lambs this winter may average about as high as last"