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Show ituatiOjx,J i Los Angeles, California, August 6, 1938 A delicate mechanism, I quickly affected by heat, cold and other factions, influences the stability sta-bility of livestock markets. A few days of extremely hot weather, which marked the close of July and early days of August, caused' an abnormal decline in consumption of fresh meats, for housewives do not like to spend much time in a hot kitchen when the mercury hovers around 100 degrees. The result was a slowing down in the demand for livestock, coupled with some decline in wholesale prices of meats. It is in such emergencies that the human element in control of the central livestock markets enters the picture to safeguard the values of millions of dollars worth of livestock. With the first signs of reduced consumer demands caused by the heat wave, livestock sales agencies warned) producers and feeders to hold back shipments ship-ments until the retail trade had righted itself. The result was that in spite of the curtailed demand, cattle prices held steady. It is $uch service performed by those who operate on the great public livestock markets thalt goes to safeguard the price structure for all livestock producers. Holidays usually have an adverse ad-verse effect upon livestock prices, particudaiily ii southern California, Califor-nia, where the public takes to automdbiles and picnic grounds, thus cutlting down the consumption consump-tion of fresh meats. Cold weather usually tends to cause an increase in mealt consumption. Those who sell livestock on the open markets closely watch these conditions and attempt to balance livestock receipts re-ceipts on the open markett. to match demand, all in the interests of a sltaKle market price structure. struc-ture. These on the central marketfcs realize their responsibilities, ana while all livestock is not consigned consign-ed to open markets, it is generally understood that all livestock values are based entirely upon the prices paid at the central markets. The greater the number! of livestock producers and feeders who realize how delicate is the balance to Maintain a stable market, the greater will be the use of centra markets for the sale of all livestock live-stock marketed in the United States. |