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Show L'rvestocle A3pwmJGHTaNjfo . : C Los Angeles, July 2, 1938 A general strengthening tendency in livestock markets is adding genuine genu-ine optimism to the livestock market mar-ket these days. The best grades of fed cattle are very scarce and are selling at prices that are netting net-ting satisfactory profits. But the reassuring feature of the market is the renewed confidence in maintaining main-taining the price structure, due in part to some strength in values ot hides and other packinghouse byproducts. by-products. Along with the stronger trend in prices of cattle and hogs is a generally higher level of prices on feedstuff s. California's barley crop j is disappointing both in volume and quality, according to reports coming in from the great grain-growing grain-growing sections. Especially is this true in the Sacramento valley, val-ley, where rains delayed planting last spring. Retail demand for meat is holding up in good shape in southern south-ern California. It migiht easily be i assumed that, if present improve-j improve-j ment in business and industrial I conditions continues, we may see very satisfactory prices for livestock live-stock as the year advances. Competition for the bettei grades of steers! is reported in California, as a number of middle western buyers are taking livestock live-stock both for immediate slaughtei and for feedlot replacements. Unfortunately, Un-fortunately, in most parts of California's Cali-fornia's cattle raising sections, bovine tuberculosis has not been eradicated sufficiently to meet federal accredited area requirements. require-ments. The result is thaifc beef cattle which are purchased foi eastern shipment to feedlots muslt be tested for tuberculosis befor shipment may be made. However the sitate is rapidly being clearec of bovine tuberculosis and it is hoped that in future years, wiher eastern demand for feeders materializes, ma-terializes, there may be no difficulty diffi-culty due to disease regulations. California cattle are rapidly going into feedloits for finishing on concentrates. It is doubtful ii there is any danger of over-supply of fed cattle such as were received receiv-ed on the markets in the winter ol 1937-38. |