Show MEAT PROSPECTS BRIGHTER SAYS STATE ECONOMIST A definite increase in crease in meat demand which should prove beneficial to cattle and hog growers may be expected during the coming year dr 0 J wheatley extension economist at the declared after his recent trip to the national outlook conference in washington D C this forecast is based on the improved industrial conditions and the possibility of some export demand as seen by out look specialists at the convention larger hog and somewhat at smaller ler cattle supplies were forecast by the specialists although the hog crop in 1939 is the largest since the drouth period an in rease in hog numbers is expect expected ei in en 1910 15 to although the p percent ercene oi of nerease probably will not be bc nearly learly as high as that of 1939 the specialists in general gen crol are arc more optimistic optimist c over domestic business improvement aiding the ohp livestock producer than any large export demand the economist reports livestock statisticians look for total calf and cattle lo 10 0 o be smaller in 1940 than it was during the present year consequently cattle supplies are not expected to be as plentiful as hog u supplies up p plies large fat cattle however e r are re in prospect for the next few months strong stocker demands exist in n nearly all parts of the country and if weather conditions improve the crops and pastures in the western great plains a substantial cattle replacement demand will develop in this area livestock men at the conference agreed that cattle number will likely increase for several years unless unusually dry weather cuts feed supplies sharply it is expected that there will be two million more inore cattle on farms and ranges on january 1 1940 than there was on january 1 1939 because of the large supplies of cattle now on feed and the stronger stocker demand prices of lower low ir grades of cattle will likely be relatively high during 1940 a as compared to the prices of prime steers and better finished cattle the informal opinion of many oi those who attended the washington conclave was that fat cattle prices would remain about steady during the balance of 1939 and through early 1940 later in 1940 1141 fat cattle prices will probably strengthen stocker cattle may possibly not share in this mild advance due to their current relatively high price level dr wheatley concluded |