Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-11-19
Livestock Prices Hold
Near Peaks in Sixth
Week Of DecontroI
BY the Associated Pres.

CHICAGO, Nov. 19.-PriceS which
farmers received for livestock today
at the start of the sixth week OF
decontrolled markets, were only
slightly under peaks established i'm
mediately after ceilings were re-
moved.
Other results Of free trading in
clude more meat, a corn-hog price
relationship favorable for expanding
the hog population, record numbers
Of cattle moving into Midwestern
feed lots and increased cold storage
meat holdings.
Five weeks ago today maximums
went off livestock and meat, and
excluding Sundays, the Nation has
had 80 days of free trading with
these results:
/. A high of $37 paid for live
cattle yesterday at Chicago equaled
the best price on record for steers.
Top on live hogs was $24.75 against
q peak of $3.50 shortly after de-
control.
Well Above Former Ceilings.
These prices were well above
former ,OPA ceilings of $20.25 on
cattle and $l6.25 on hogs. In addi-
ton there was a subsidy of so cents
to $40 on cattle and SITS on hogs.
2. Livestock receipts and meat
supplies are much larger than in
the period before decontrol. Cattle
slaughter under Federal inspection
in October was up 207 per cent over
September and hog slaughter GIL
per cent. November receipts also
are higher than in the control Pc
Rod, although arrivals Of cattle are
smaller than year ago. Hog ar
rivals are above year ago.
8. Record numbers of stocker
and feeder cattle have moved into
Midwestern feed lots, where they
are being fed for later marketing
as choice beef. The Agriculture De-
partment said shipments Of. such
cattle into the corn belt in october
exceeded any month on record.
Slaughter Of Choice Cattle Low.
Slaughter of choice cattle will
continue small for the balance of
this year." the department said, but
added, AN increasing volume of
such cattle may be forthcoming
after the first Of next year, with
large supplies probable in the late
spring and summer"
4. Meat prices are lower than
Immediately after decontrol, but
far above former ceilings. Choice
dressed beef carcass weighing SOC
to 600 pounds at New York yester-
day brought $45 to $48. Immedi-
ately after decontrol the price was
$59.67. Ceiling was $26.1s.
Choice pork loins weighing 8 to 10
pounds yesterday sold for $50 to SIS
compared with $56.5s after decontrol
and ceiling Of $31.88. With both
beef and pork, the meat industry
commended substantial quantities
formerly sold above ceiling prices in
the black market.
Corn-Hog Ratio Increases.
5. A record-breaking corn crop,
forcing prices lower. has produced
a corn-hog ratio at Chicago of 1873
to !. meaning that the price of 100
pounds Of live hog is equal to the
price Of 1873 bushels OF corn. Last
year at this time the hog price
equaled only 1913 bushels of corn.
II. A. Whiteside. who calculates
the corn-hog ratio, said that it was
more favorable for feeding corn to
hogs now than at any time in Eat
least the past several years"
8. Holdings of meat in cold stor-
age have increased, though normal
movement for meat Tin OCTOBER is
out OF storage" the Agriculture De-
partment said. stocks Of stored
meat increased during October by
1000. 900 pounds This still left
stocks around half of normal for
November /.