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Show , iteSituatioiiJ oht sz. r Xeut Consumption Decline in 1930. Consumption of meats in the United Unit-ed Slates showed a decline in 1930, the per capita consumption being 1111.7 pounds, as compared with 13G.3 pounds in 1929 and 149.7 pounds in 192 V, when consumption was :. the heaviest since 190S. There was also a decrease in the use of lard, per ci-.pita consumption being 13.8 pounds against 14.3 pounds in 1929. Consumption Con-sumption of lamb and mutton was the largest since 1924, the 1930 average per capita being 6.6 pounds against only 5 pounds in 1922. Despite decrease in total consumption consump-tion of." beef in the United States, there was an increase in Southern California, and the same is true of rk. Lamb consumption showed a fi-cater proportionate increase in Southern California than in any other part of the United States. This increase in-crease is due both to increasing pop-ulat pop-ulat on 'and :to improved marketing and merchandising in Los Angeles county, where lamb consumption is probably the) heaviest of any section in the United States, being about 5 times the national average. California Lamb Situation Dangerous. A serious situation confronts the California lamb raisers, who have a larger supply of lambs than ever before, be-fore, and a poor feed condition. Due to shortage of rainfall during the past 30 days in the big lamb raising districts, many experts do not expect more than 50 per cent of the California Califor-nia early lambs to be fat. It is expected ex-pected that the drouth will force heavy marketing of California lambs during April and seme apprehension exists as to the probable market i price. Only a small percentage of the California Cal-ifornia thin lambs will be fattened within the state, according to the opinion of those close to the industry. It is expected that a greater percentage percent-age of fat lambs than usual will be forced to seek middle western outlets. out-lets. Grain and hay are relatively cheap in California and it would seem a wise policy to perfect plans to fat- ten out many thin lambs in feedlots on the Pacific coast. There has been little contracting of lambs this season as ideas of grow ers and buyers are rather far apart. Several thousand lambs have been sold for April delivery at around 8 to 8 cents a pound in the country. The majority probably will go through the central markets in California Cal-ifornia and the middle west, as growers grow-ers believe this will give them the best possible market. |