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Show 7iLrves toclc I A - 'Incie appears to be n continued firm undertone in the beef cattle market, as every Indication still points to a continued period of light supplies on tho western markets. Feed conditions in California this year have been disappointing, with the result that the Pacific coast markets mar-kets did not have the usual extremely extreme-ly heavy supplies of grass-fat cattle marketed in May that UHually occur. June receipts are likely to be rather light for this season of the year, and .he trade is showing a disposition to quickly buy up all decently fleshed steers. On the other hand, the poor fed conditions have forced some cattlemen cat-tlemen to ship to market a great quantity of half-fat and plain cattle I which are, of course, not popular with the meat trade. On this class of ma terial, the demand has been rather narrow and buyers are slow to take hold of such stock. Thin cattle are still selling relatively rela-tively high, in the opinion of cattle feeders, and all of this thin and half fat stock is going into killer channels. chan-nels. There seems to be a considerable consider-able amount of grain stubble fields available for short pasturing, supplemented sup-plemented with cottonseed cake, but with money rather scarce and interest inter-est rates higher than normally, those who ordinarily might be buyers for finishing purposes are not showing a disposition to buy. There seems to be no real indication indica-tion of any material increase in cattle cat-tle production in the entire country. This is particularly true in the western west-ern states, where range feed is none too satisfactory, particularly in the cattle breeding states, such as Arizona Ariz-ona and New Mexico. Then too, cattlemen are backward about paying pay-ing prevailing prices for breeding cows and heifers, which, because of both scarcity and competition from meat distributors, are relatively high. Coupled with high money rates, the situation does not appear to be conducive con-ducive to increased beef production. Southwestern cattle breeders who are fortunately situated as to feed are showing a greater disposition to hold back their female calves and yearlings but this is not being done on a large scale, and even if it were, it would, of course, take another two or three years before the young stock would start producing calf crops. All in all, the beef situation is on a strong basis. There appears to be no thought in the mind of anyone in the trade of any lower scale of beef values for some time to come. On the other hand, it must be borne in mind that the value of beef cattle cat-tle on the market must always de- ptnd upon the ability and wIYling- ness of the consumer to pay. Further, ; beef prices, a J ever, will continue to be regulated to a great extent by competition from other foods, including includ-ing other meats, and all sorts of vegetables, fruits and cereal foods. The human system requires Just so much food and if it is filled with other products, there will be Just that much less beef consumed. Beef cattle producers realize, however, how-ever, thnt in due time, our beef supply sup-ply will again be built up to a normal supply. With this thought in mind, actual steps are being taken to popularize beef through a comprehensive compre-hensive and well planned advertising and publicity campaign, but it seems that serious consideration should be given to quality products. |