Evening star., 1951-06-07
Cattle Raisers Keep
Animals on Farm as
Shortages Spread
sy the Associated Press

+
CHICAGO, June Z. -. Cattle
raisers sim kept the bulk of their
animals down on the farm and
In feediots today and the threat
of an early widespread beef short
age become more acute.
Only $4,000 head Of cattle ar
rived for sale at the Nations IL
principal livestock markets. COM
pared with 2S,600 the same day
week ago.
This brought the weeks receipts
TO date to 110,700 compared with
1896 last week. which included
Memorial Day when the markets
were closed and 16l. 500 q year
ago.
Sales records at the Chicago
stockyards, the Nations largest.
show that small packers are TAX
ing the bulk of the limited offer
ings. Comparatively heavy ship
ments also are being sent East.
Slaughtering Sharply Cut.
The big packers have contended
that the prices asked are too high
Tor them to comply with Govern
ment ceilings. All the major
packers have cut beef slaughter
ing sharply and workers have
been laid off at packing plants
around the country.
Michael Hewlett, Chicago re-
gional director of the Office of
Price Sterilization. said if the
small packers can buy at current
prices "the big ones should be
able to do it."
Cattle prices were mostly steady
In Chicago today-at figures the
big packers contend keeps them
out Of the market. High choice
and prime steers and yearlings
brought $37 to $38. The ceiling
is $S7 on prime yielding 81 per
cent meat.
Cites Shipments East.
Mr.. Hewlett said the bulk of
the cattle offered yesterday sold
for $3.50 to $3.50 in Chicago,
compared with the 1920 ceiling
for choice cattle.
He cited the comparatively
heavy shipments Of cattle to the
East and said these buyers appar-
emily are confident they can stay
within Government price ceilings.
Mr.. Hewlett issued figures OBJ
tained by his investigators show
ing that among the big packers
on Tuesday and Wednesday,
Armour & Co. bought 459 cattle
in Chicago, Swift & Co., 109 and
Wilson & Co. 325.
At the same time, among the
small companies the Weller Co.
bought 752, the Gee Bee 1888, the
Illinois Packing Co. TOT and the
Graver Co. 69S.
Order Buyers Active.
On the same days, order buyers
bought 1,648 for shipment to New
York. 1919 for Ohio, 1856 for
New Jersey and 1,047 for Penn
sylvania.
Mr.. Hewlett said yesterday that
the big packers are trying to
force Congress to eliminate con-
trolls on meat"
In Norfolk. Va, beef supplies
dropped OF 40 per cent from April
2S to May %. the local OPS Office
reported yesterday.
The office said supplies of low
grade beef are adequate to meet
current demands. but there is a
shortage in certain cuts and a
sharp drop in the quantity of
high-grade beef.
Baltimore Running Short.
Baltimore meat packers said
their beef coolers are almost
empty They predicted a beef
shortage will develop in this area,
starting next week. and said they
probably will have to lay of some
Of their men.
I'VE cannot buy live cattle in
compliance with the price regula-
tions," one packer said. 1--WE know
that there are some from out of
town who are buying out Of COM
pliance, but no one seems to be
doing anything about it."
One packer said his firm killed
only 48 heads of cattle last week,
as compared with 500 head a week
on the average.
Trading Is Slow.
Trading was slow on slaughter
cattle on the Baltimore livestock
market although Thursday usually
is one Of the busiest days of the
week. An estimated 1000 head
were on hand when the market
opened.
Observers said the present ex-
cellent crop Of grass is respon-
sible for shrinkage of offerings
for slaughter.
THE grass is better than I
have ever SEEN" he said. Grow
ers would rather feed cattle than
sell them for slaughter"