OCR Text |
Show flYvESTOCK SITUATION g m -as seen at the .. Loslnqeks Union itock yards Los Angeles Union Stock Yards, February 14 iNot only, was the total number of meat animals slaughtered in 1942 the largest in the history of the United States, but packers paid 50 more for livestock than in 1941. Figures just released by the United ,States Department of Agriculture give a graphic idea of the dollar volume of the livestock industry, one of the largest industries in the country. coun-try. For cattle, calves, hogs and sheep slaughtered under federal packers paid out nearly three and one half billion dollars, as compared com-pared with approximately two and one quarter billions in 1941. Hog growers and feeders received re-ceived more money for their product pro-duct than cattlemen, the total amount spent by packers being $1,794,968,000, an increase of 70 over 1941. Cattle and calves cost the packers $1,437,176,000, a gain of 35 over 1941. Sheep and lambs brought in cash amounting to $227,158,000, a gain of 40 . It is generally assumed that about 50 of the meat supply in the United States is federally in. spected; thus the total amount paid out for livestock in 1942 was in the neighborhood of seven billion bil-lion dollars. Prices for this huge volume of business are established at the great central livestock markets under open, competitive bidding. At the Los Angeles Union Stock yards in 1942, trading established the values on the approximately $125,000,000 worth of cattle, calves, hogs and sheep slaughtered slaughter-ed by southern California meat packers. The livestock markets continue on an active and firm basis at the Los Angeles Union Stock yards. A new top in the history of the market was scored last week when choice steers realized S16.36 a cwt., bulk of medium to good steers making $14.50 to $15.75. common grades $12.75 to $14.00. |