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Show Livestoclc . Los Angeles, April 16, 1934 Two of the largest meat packers in the Los Angeles area announce that, as a matter of future policy, they will not enter into large scale cattle feeding in competition with cattlemen. Stockmen Stock-men generally will receive this news with pleasure as they have long felt the fact that a packer had large supplies sup-plies of cattle ready for slaughter in their own pens was a constant threat against enhancement of values. Several of the large producer livestock live-stock associations have gone on re- v j cord, requesting packers to discon-! discon-! tinue their large scale feeding prac- tice. j It is probable that the packers I have not found large scale cattle j feeding profitable, even during times I when the cowman or farmer cattle I feeder is able to finish steers with some degree of profit. As a rule, ! packer feeding has been carried out on relatively high-priced land close j to metropolitan centers, where all of the feed as well as the livestock has ! had to carry costly transportation : expense. , 1 It has always seemed to me that the proper place for livestock feeding feed-ing is near the source of production of feeds. The men who have been the most dependable cattle feeders are those who carry on their operations opera-tions on a rather small scale, with a minimum of hired help and where feeding could be carried out in conjunction con-junction with other farming operations. opera-tions. The fact that large packers have given up cattle feeding operations should not deter farmers and stockmen stock-men from fattening and finishing of cattle, but should, instead, be a real inducement to practical operators to attempt to supply the market with the quality and finish that the trade wants . There is also the extra opportunity op-portunity now that feeding operations opera-tions may be attended with profit because be-cause the packer will depend entirely upon supplies from such feeders. There is urgent need for greater knowledge of livestock feeding and finishing here in the western country, coun-try, where such operations may be carried on in connection with production. produc-tion. Gradually, western producers are learning the feeds that may be best Utilized, both from standpoint of economy and quality. The fact that the packer is out of the game broadens the outlet for well finished beeves and should prove a greater incentive in-centive for the man who is irt shape to feed to do so. Decision of the meat packers to discontinue large scale feeding operations opera-tions is another very important step toward giving the producer opportunity oppor-tunity to sell his finished cattle at best advantage under ' the laws of supply and demand. |