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Show PRICE DECLINE FOR 1921 MEAT Federal Crop Review Shows Wide Fluctuations in Market Conditions Despite occasional tmporary upward up-ward movements caused by the un , ernnesa of supply and demand, the wholesale prices of fresh mastl show-jed show-jed a steady decline throughout 1321. according to the annual review of meat trade conditions by the I'nited States bureau of markets and crop es 'tlmates. published In a late issu of I "Weather. Crops ami Markets." This reiw reads in part: "In many respects 1921 was a re-! markable year In the histbry of the fresh meat trade The forced liquidation liquida-tion to which the livestock industry was subjected caused uneven market ing of supplies, and was largely re-' sponsbile for the wide fluctuations that occurred at numerous times dur Ing the year. "Partly as a result of the substan-' tial Increases In quantities offered during 121, the movement of fresh meats into trado channels waa of a forced character during a greater pan of the year. This condition was reflected re-flected in gradually declining prices and. although Ihere were numerous upward movements during the year, such movements were almost invariably invar-iably followed by still greater de- j cllnes. "A feature of the beef trade in 1921 was the preference shown for lighter weight carcasses of medium to choice grades. Excessively heavy steers and those showing an excess of fat were discriminated against throughout. This, to some extent, was a reflection of the reduced purchasing power of consumers in general, tho lighter weight animals, as a rule, making po sible a more economical utilization. Low prices for fats also made OTsrfai he.-f bhjectitonable to both the retnll dealer and the consumer. SUPPLY EXCEEDS DEMAND. ) ' Despite decreased offeiings of bet: at eastern markets and only moderate supplier' at Chicago, the demand w: generally insufficient to keep supplies moving in an rderl manner This condition caused frequent accumul; lions and resulted in rather sleadil.-decllning sleadil.-decllning prices. The net result of thi downward movement was an average decline for 'he year of $5 72 per 100 pounds on good and medium steer beef. "Tnev e.nncss of supply and demand at Intervals during the year caused wide price fluctuations (in veal prices) at the several markets, the SZtreml I tnge between the high and ; low points being about 512 per 1"" pounds. Extreme high prices were reached during January, while the low points occurred during May and De-comber. De-comber. The average decline for the; year at four markets amounted to j 55 "8 per 100 pounds. MUCH LAMB RE EXPORTED. "Accurate comparison of the total! supply of lamb and multon at eastern markets for 1920 with that fur 1921 Is made difficult on account of the ex Itremely heavy importations from New; Zealand during 1920 and the re-export movement which occurred during ' the closing month of 1920 and the flrsl ball of 1921. Imports of lamb and mutton during 1920 amounted to ap-proximately ap-proximately 101,000,000 pounds, while for the 11 months of 1921 imports! equaled 24.000.000 pounds, or a total ' for li2o and 1921 of approximately j 1 25.000. i.iimi pounds. Reexports of Now Zealand lamb ami muUou durinu 1920 and 1921 amounted to 57,000.000 I pounds, leaving approximately C8.U00 000 pounds net. of the Imported prod uot to be consumed in the United States. PORK LOINS DECLINE "While the general trend of pork prices was downward during the year, there were numerous upward move mollis which were almost invariably followed by still greater declines The) low point of Ihe year was reached in : November and December. "The decline in yearly average prices of light and medium pork loins amounted to J7 38 at the four markets. Chicago leading with a decline of 8.01, while the loss at :he three east ern markets amounted to $7.15 per 100 pounds." FEWER ANIMALS MARKETED. in discussing tne livestock market for the year, the review states in part: 'From the standpoint of domestic meal supplies ol ihe near future per haps a . . . significant feature Is the fact that during the year Just ended j.'miii, 000 fewer animals from central markets went back to tho country for feeding than during 1920 "Opinions may differ as to what tbe above situation indicates with regard to the cattle industry of ihe country. There seems to be little doubt, how. irer, thai range herds have been seriously se-riously depleted ahd thai the large cattle cat-tle producers will, for some time tn come, face a serious problem of restocking. re-stocking. PREFER LIGHTER MEATS. "Following the trend of market re 'IJlreinenis for lighter carcass beef, stocker and feeder demand switched strongly from heavy feeders to light cattle and even calves, with the result re-sult that an unusually largo percent age Of calves and many light, and oft en coninion, stockcrs went back to the country. "The preference for lightweight anl mals applied to hogs as well as cattle and as a result lightweight hogs and pigs sold at a premium practically throughout the year At one period iu August lightweights on the Chicago markets sold $3.50 per 100 pounds above heavy packing sows. While the continued heavy receipts of sheep and lambs nt public stockyards stock-yards throughout the year 1921 would seem to indicate a continuation of liquidation, li-quidation, the sharp upturn of lamb prices during tho last six weeks of 1921 may carry to the sheepman a ra , of hope of better times to follow. That i here is an increasing demand on the part of the consuming public lor lamb as food seems indisputable and this would seem to bo borne out conclu-Mvr conclu-Mvr ly b ilie fact that despite the general industrial depression of recent months and the relatively high price at which lamb sells compared with most other fresh meats, togeter with .increased supplies available, lamb prices have been maintained well above the pre war level." |