Show Modern Marketing of Animals Poses Problems Says County Agent More and more attention is being focused on things that all people in the livestock in- in industry must consider in mar mar- marketing meat animals notes County Agent Kay R Bendix son sen He said he heard some vital questions posed at a recent workshop attended by Robert Shiner of Vernal and the ago ag- agent ent that concerned the future of the livestock industry and need to be resolved soon HERE ARE SOME of those that were raised at the Exten Exten- Extension sion Meat Workshop directed by Dr Morris H Taylor Utah State extension marketing specialist 1 1 Since restaurants reo re- retailers and consumers In their purchases are arc saying they want quality meat that has a alow low ratio of fat to lean can we adequately relate these specifications to live animals so that they guide selection for breeding and feeding and influence length of feeding feedings I programs and kinds of reed feed fed objective 2 Will we obtain an I tive evaluation of all the fac factors tors that are now used in inI I placing a price tag on live meat animals on their car car- carcasses I casses and on meats in the counter I 3 HOW DO WE develop a differential pricing schedule for cattle and lambs which will pay producers for the specific kinds of meat they produce rather than for broad averages that now work to o otheir their disadvantages 4 Should cattle and lambs be penalized as is now done with hogs 5 What actually constitutes adequate finish of cattle and lambs 6 Just how much emphasis should be placed on marbling of beef bed as a mark of quality DR TAYLOR points out that live estimates of beef car car- carcass cass grade are arc not precise be be- be because cause market emphasis is on marbling in the loin eye and there is no known way of pos pos- positively determining this when the cattle are alive He emphasizes that grading of livestock and meats is needed whether it is done by government packers or reo re- retailers Meats grading is an in- in integral integral part of specification buying and selling It is so important that problems problems lems associated assod ted with grading have become magnified For example packers have placed emphasis on highly finished cattle and on yield figuring that if cattle are well finished they are more apt to carry sufficient marbling to grade high or otherwise satisfy mar mar- market ket specifications Since pricing machinery has long been based on aver aver- averages ages packers have put pres- pres pressure pressure sure on feeders of livestock to get them to yield high This often leads to excessive finish I and THE EXTENSION market market- marketing ing specialist said Changes are needed in merchandising and pricing to take full ad ad- ad advantage vantage of potential growth in markets for meat and to pay appropriately for producing what more con con- consumers consumers sumers say they want The only protection agaInst fallout is to keep it away from you by remaining in shelter and keeping it out of food feed and water I Mrs Harvey Lola Christ Christ- Christensen ensen attended an American School Food Service conven conven- convention tion at Atlanta City New Jer Jer- Jersey sey last week She left Oct 27 and returned Nov 3 Mrs Christensen is supervIsor of Uintah School District lunch hunch program |