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Show sLivestock: After declining to the lowest levels in more than forty years, hog prices have made sharp recovery, carrying prices to the highest levels in about three months. Some seasonal advance had been anticipated in hog values but the most optimistic had not looked for the rapid recovery that has featured the trading during the past two weeks. Further improvement in the hog market may generally be expected it this season of the year, as the trend of hog prices over a period of many years shows that the peak in prices generally is reached in August. Government Gov-ernment reports indicate that marketings market-ings for the balance of 1932 will be smaller than the large receipts of last year, while private reports indicate a considerable lessening of pigs for 1933. ' ' Many farmers have found in the sale of hogs practically their only moans of raising immediate cash. Those who are in close touch with conditions throughout the middle west are of the opinion that many hog owners own-ers have sacrificed breeding stock as a means of paying current expenses j and taxes. j Another bullish feature that is giv- j ing many in the trade great concern j is the breaking out of hog cholera in i many sections. These outbreaks have ! been the result of lack of immuniza- tion. Many farmers have not felt jus- j tified in the expense connected with I vaccinating their pigs and serious con- j sequences are possible. History show's that periods of ab- normally low prices generally bring, about sharp curtailment in production, ' with abnormally high prices as the usual result. It remains to be seen whether or not this will be true. Nevertheless, the outlook for hog prices is favorable and it would appear ap-pear that the purchase of good brood sows at prevailing prices would be a good investment. j |