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Show THE LIVESTOCK SITUATION The value of specialization in practically every line of production has been amply demonstrated of recent years. Following along these lines so far as marketing and distribution dis-tribution are concerned centralization centraliza-tion has proven highly essential. This has proved particularly true in connection with : livestock both from a. marketing and distributing standpoint . as through the centralization central-ization of supply at given points properly located to best serve the consuming centers a visible supply is created and for this reason a more orderly flow may be attained. One of the most important links in the marketing of any commodity is buying power and in order that this power may function most efficiently it must, of necessity, be centralized. That is, bring to a focal point the buying forces so that the demand may be gauged and the supply adjusted as closely as possible thereto. The centralization of this buying power fits in admirably with the grouping together at certan points of meat packing establishments and the many economies derived from byproducts by-products resulting from this method react directly to the benefit of the producer. One of the obstacles in the past which has confronted the development develop-ment of central points through which the livestock supply may be passed has been the direct movement of livestock from the producing sections to the packing plants. This portion of the movement of livestock, of course, makes up the invisibfe supply and as many times resulted in over-supplies over-supplies being thrown into trade channels, causing congestion and losse sto the producer through the breaking down of price levels on the live animal and to the packer, on the other hand, through the demoralization demoraliza-tion of the dressed meat trade. In centralizing the livestock supply sup-ply at marketing centers it is possible pos-sible to determine the packer demand de-mand and gauge the flow of livestock live-stock as closely as possible to meet this and no more. Of course, when the volume moving to market is properly adjusted to the demand and the entire buying power is centralized cen-tralized at a given point the closest possible coordination between sup ply and demand results and naturally natural-ly reflects itself in stabilized prices. However, when the foreign element ele-ment of direct movement is injected into the situation, even though representing rep-resenting only a small percentage of the total volume, immediately the buying power at the marketing centers cen-ters is split and the tendency is toward to-ward depression until the. outside , supplies have been absorbed and the demand returns to normau' " " " This' situation, however, seems to be correcting itself as the tendency on the part of the producers is constantly toward placing their ac tivities on a more business-like and economical basis. |