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Show IMLivestoclci fcSit u at iorb j tainly on present grain quotations, barley cashed through the manufacture manufac-ture of pork would offer a much bet--tor sale than as grain. Year in and year out, a study of records! of the rr-Iation between barley and pork prices indicate the advantages of pork feeding in areas where barley is grown. to doubt the accuracy of this government govern-ment estimate and generally -insist that beef cattle numbers on the , western west-ern ranges are much smaller than five years ago. It appears that the government estimators arrive at their conclusion because of the relatively small number of cows and heifers slaughtered under federal inspection and assume that the females have been held for breeding purposes because be-cause of low prices. The fact that barley prices during the past dropped to the lowest levels in California since 1885, may cause further increase in' cattle feeding in California, and may make the hog business appear more attractive to grain growers'. For the first time within the memory of traders, barley is selling at country points at prices several dollars a ton cheaper than hay. With little apparent grounds for price recovery in barley prices, grain growers might well consider beef and pork production as the most profitable means of cashing their crops. Cer- With markets generally strong to higher during the past week, Los Angeles An-geles strengthened its position as the ''white spot" as far as livestock markets mar-kets are concerned. For the first time in many a month, it was noticeable that all classes and kinds of livestock were on a better price level. Last week's top on fat lambs at $6.10 was the highest in ten months, and on the day the $6.10 top was established, it was the highest price reported at any major market in the United States. Last week's top on hogs at $4.25 was also higher than the middle western markets and the highest top in several sever-al weeks at Los Angeles. Choice baby beef heifers from a California feed-lot feed-lot sold at $5.50, the highest price in .several weeks. Although the federal department of agriculture looks for a smaller number num-ber of ewes in the United States this year, because of better lambing conditions, condi-tions, it appears doubtful if there will be much decrease in the total lamb crop as compared with 1932, although al-though there is expected to be a marked decrease from the record crop of 1931. Government statisticians assert a growing population of beef cattle and estimate the largest calf crop in the history of the United States this season. sea-son. Western cattlemen are inclined |