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Show Wh le our food habits are subject sub-ject to some fluctuations and occasionally occas-ionally certain items are affected by fads and fancies, yet there has been but little change in the American diet during tho past 30 years. A study recently completed by the department de-partment of commerce shows that in l'.'OQ Americans were eating 142 lbs. of meat per capita, while in 1930 the total was 144 pounds. In 1909 the per capita consumption was 150 pounds. Wo are consuming u greater quantity quan-tity of milk than ever before, the lO '.O per capita total of 1040 pounds comparing with 9i00 pounds in 1900. Increases are shown in consumption of fruits and vegetables, sugar, fats and oils, but cereal consumption has dropped from 318 pounds in 1900 to 219 pounds in 1930. In total number of pounds, Americans are shown to be eating 205G pounds of food as compared with 1920 pounds in 1900. There is a constant battle waging by various food interests to capture a greater percentage of the Ameri-can Ameri-can food market. In this competition price is always important, but intelligent intel-ligent publicity and merchandising undoubtedly is the greatest factor. California sheepmen have almost completed the marketing of the bulk of their fat lambs, but there still remain in the state a very large number num-ber of thin lambs which -either must be fattened or else carried over for another year, to be marketed as yearlings. year-lings. Manifestly, in view of the public pub-lic appetite for lamb and the importance impor-tance of continuing to cater to this demand, it is important that ways and means of economically fattening these lambs is a major economic problem, important primarily to the sheepmen but of vast economic importance im-portance to the state as well. Comparatively lew range sheepmen sheep-men are equipped to place their thin lambs in dry lot corrals for finishing. Solving of this important problem rests with the smaller farmers and grain growers. These people need the assistance of banks and financing companies, and advice from univer- sity authorities and practical feeders. Feeder lambs have been selling this season at 4 to 4Vi cents a pound in California, whereas fat lambs during dur-ing the past 60 days have been selling sell-ing at the market at 8 to 9 cents' a pound. If this price continues, there should be a fair profit for those who are equipped to feed lambs. |