Show to TN livestock situation dy L A mcnaughton LOS ANGELES jan 1933 al though tho the demand tor for stocker and feeder cattle has shown mark od ed improvement and there liaa has boon been some strengthening of values on oil that class of stock block the general fat cattle market has haa lacked a healthy lie althy undertone under tono A huge amount of meat to Is being consumed in southern california but there appears to be quick protest against arly any upward revision of prices with feedlots feed lota lots near los angeles practically emptied of cattle many in the trado trade had boon been optimistic of some gome improvement in cattle prices so far tills optimism hs his liot hot ben been reflected among buyers As aa indicated by the record slaughter of cattle and hogs in los angeles county in 1932 there Is a tremendous demand for all kinds of fat in southern california and actual sales bales indicate a generally go higher market on the pacific coast than prevails on the eastern markets tile tho range of prices continues very narrow on cattle with good quality steers selling tit at a very small m all premium over mediocre and I 1 plain stock and at prices that make steers steers appear relatively low in relation to cows cowa and heifers heffers hei fers one of the chief difficult ties faced in the cattle market Is the very tory low value of hides end and other products byproducts by when it la is re that tile tho average hide weighs roughly over seven per cent of the total weight of the beef animal and with cured hides hlaca selling at only three cents 0 pound it may be seen that the hide la Is generally selling belling tor for less leas per pound than beet beef critters there has haa been some strength in fit the lamb market due in part to smaller numbers of lambs avail abol and also to the fact that the woot wool market la in in much healthier condition than the hide market the 1933 cr crop 0 p of lambs Is already I 1 being marketed marke ted mainly from imperial valley of Califor california rila and salt river valley of 0 arizona baby lamb la meeting with good reception from consumers and rightly so because the early lambs lamba offer th the consumer strictly choice me meat a t it la Is likely that there will bo be some decrease in numbers ot of early lambs lamba marketed by california flock mastors masters this season also because of the indications of an abundance of late range feed it seems likely that there will be a disposition on the part of wool growers to market their lambs heavier than usual and possibly later than usual the meat trade Is now low engaged in the seasonal warnings warning oi to sheep men to market their lambs as all fast as aa they are ready for market topping out the fitt fat ones and making art an effort not to carry them until they weigh too much for popular trade demands spring tat lambs weighing seventy pounds are popular when heavier hea vierl weights are offered the early lambs come no into direct comp competition etl with feedlot products and are likely to sell relatively lower |