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Show Firm Demand Is 1 Noted In Markets For Beef Stock Los Angeles, California, July 20, 1936 There continues to be a very firm undertone in the livestock live-stock trade, particularly on the better grades of beef. That values of is true in the beef cattle markets on the Pacific coast, where demand is constantly broadening for the better grades of beef. That values ar the good and choice grades of fed cattle are strengthening is a reflection re-flection of consumer demand, a demand de-mand that is being accentuated to a great degree by retail store advertising. ad-vertising. There are many in the trade who look for increased marketings of livestock from the states that are now affected by drouth conditions. " However, it is doubtful if this forced marketing will endanger ' prevailing livestock values. There ! is the assurance from Washington that the federal government is I ready to stop in and buy drouth-' drouth-' stricken livestock on lines similar to the campaign of 1934. But to my mind, it is of even greater im portance to view the continued good demand for livestock suitable to go into feedlots in areas where crop conditions are relatively favorable. Another factor which probably will prevent any undue expansion in the feeding and marketing of , good quality beef is the trend of teed prices. With all grains and ! livestock concentrates and forage i steadily climbing in price, it is ' probable that there will be less disposition on the part of farmers ' to feed heavily for the summer, and , fall markets. We are leaving a i period when feed prices were low and livestock prices eorrespond-ingly eorrespond-ingly favorable. This should result re-sult in further strengthening of values of the higher grades of livestock. live-stock. i Indications are that the increase in pork production will be effectively effec-tively hampered by the higher prices of grains. Middle western markets report a great many sows coming on the markets, indicating a desire on the part of farmers to realize cash income from the relatively rela-tively high prices, and at the same time conserve food supplies cut short by drouth conditions. It is therefore reasonable to assume that the price outlook for the hog feeder is relatively favorable for some time to come, particularly in areas where feeds and pastures are abundant. The American public is consuming consum-ing a tremendous volume of beef and it is reassuring that under the huge slaughtering, that prices are holding up fairly well. It might be noted that June slaughter of cattle in the United States was the largest on record; and that the slaughter of cattle for the first six months of 1936 was larger than any other period on record with exception ex-ception of 1918. The difference is that virtually all beef is nowi consumed con-sumed within the boundaries of the United States, whereas in '.1918 there was a huge export trade due to the war in Europe. , |