Show interesting D data ita given on 1032 1932 sliced and wool sheep numbers in this country on january 1 I thia this year were estimated to be larger than on january januar 1 1922 which aas as the low coiny point from which numbers have risen I 1 without intermission until they are now the tile largest on record both I 1 stock sheep and sheep and lamba lambs on teed feed are in larger number numbers tha than n last year the increase in block stock sheep la Is mostly in ewes two eora es old and over Sheep men in the western range states report a marked in the number ot of beed aged ewes ees in their flocks but a decrease in yearling ewes and a sharp reduction in the number or of ewe two lambs being kept tor for breeding the estimated number of sheep and lambs on fecca me at tho the beginning of the year was the largest ever eer reported ae as of that date in the corn belt elates states there were increases over lost year in every elate state but one in the western states there were large increases in north dakota texas new mexico and oregon and mall small increases in colorado and washington in all the other beti cm ern statha numars on feed were smaller than a ear earlier the dec case in utah being most marked feed and ranee range conditions in texas thie this have been very favorable A considerable increase over last year in november and december lambs Is reported and a large supply of gram fat yearling 11 AN 61 wether Is available in that state for the spring market although weather and teed feed conditions in the early laming larna ng sections of california in late 1831 2931 ere rather unfavorable there has been considerable improvement in recent weeks the early lamb crop in california however appears to be somewhat smaller than that of last year weather and feed conditions dur ing the whiter and early I 1 spring prin 9 greatly influence the size 0 of f the annual lamb crop in most area areas east of the missouri river feed con daloni are good and the weather veather thus far ha has not been very severe in most of the tile range francs excluding texas conditions this v inter have not been favorable tor for sheep blocks entered the winter in the poorest condition in beveral years because become of last years ot of produced hay and other feeds have hae been inadequate for an average winter and very short tor for a hard winter winter range also has been poor and the winter to date has been severe in the area west of the continental divide present financial condition conditions in the industry Indus tty aie ale causing sheep men to restrict expenditures tures for feed and labor in carrying their sheep through the emte because of the falling off in consumer incomes the demand for lamb has been considerably reduced and the larger supplies of lamb last lost vear ear were moved into consumption at greatly reduced prices the reduction in the demand for lambs however has not been so marked as that for beef and pork lamb prices advanced moderate iv lv during the first four months of 1031 but after the middle of may the trend of prices was downward until early december these lower prices were reflected in decreased inventory values of sheep and lambs on that date was only 3 40 acm compared pared w ith 5 33 a year earlier and was the lowest average value s ince 1905 world sheep numbers and world wool production have been maintained at high levels for the last four bears 5 ears and wool prices declined almost continuously from 1928 to the beginning of 1932 ex favorable weather eather and feed conditions in most wool producing countries and the limited alternatives open to sheep men undoubtedly contributed to the maintenance of dign wool production despite the drop in wool prices wool consumption in the united states rose to a high level in the spring and summer of 1931 but failed to the after september in foreign countries textile activity was at r wry or low leel le el during most of and sale sae of goods were generally email 1 N near car t the he end of tho the heur I 1 however boever m mill activity in i few ew co arlei bit wool prices were barely steady major depressions tn in sheep and wool prices hac hae gene generally 11 y been followed hy by import importing int delikta hi ats il in th the e geographical distribution of s sheep h beep numbers all and d by marked changes in the character ol 01 the industry as a of efforts oi 01 the part ot of the sheep men to reduce operating costs and obtain maximum net re turns per sheep there Is some evidence that producers are now attempting to make similar readjustments just ments as a a result of the pre sent tent depression in the induct industry ry an increasing interest tn in early lamb production ts is fr in some sections and there has been some shifting shit ting of ownership of flocks from area areas where feed supplies were short to those where supplies were vere more plentiful |