Show Hogs Had Drastic Drop During 1931 WASHINGTON Feb 23 UP UP A A. A summary of the livestock ck situation ia is sued by the department of agriculture ag age stated that during 1931 hog hogs su suffered the most drastic drastic- decline in price of ot any my cla class of ot livestock Although the average price of hogs dropped more than 45 per cent from 1136 a head a year ago to the e summary stated the retail price of only 22 per cent The total number of hogs at the beginning be ginning of this year was 94 per cent above the number a year before the increase representing about head About of this increase was in the corn belt Hogs showed the largest percentage of increase in numbers and suffered the most drastic dras dras- tic price decline of any class of live live- stock The average price dropped front from 1136 to a head during 1931 Last years year's increase in the number of hogs which hogs which certainly had much to do with the drop in price price followed followed three years of decline However the danger that the 1933 report will show a total number in excess of the 59 reported in January is indicated indi in the bureaus bureau's report of the breeding intentions of the industry When adjusted for the usual spread between the breeding intentions re reported reported re- re ported in September and and the actual farrowing reported the following June the survey indicates there will willbe be about 2 per cent more pigs far farrowed rowed this spring than last However the consumption of pork products has increased about 6 per cent probably cent probably as the result of the 22 per cent drop in prices At the beginning of the present year there was about pounds of pork in warehouses a 7 per percent percent cent increase over the year before The bureau was very careful not to forecast the 1932 activities of the hog market but it did sum up favorable and unfavorable factors that will af af- feet it Unfavorable factors confronting corn belt producers in the marketing year 33 1932 fn 1932 are in expanding hog pro in the south and west in increasing increasing in- in creasing numbers of cattle on farms and continued large slaughter pf of sheep arid and lambs the bureau report report- ed Favorable factors are decreased hog production in the corn belt and decreased European hog production in 1932 |