Show the livestock situation by i J A mcnaughton markets generally are in ill i highly satisfactory condition prices representing profitable returns to growers and feeders yet at a t such i levels as to offer moat meat to consumers tit at attractive attract ivo prices palce As compared with a year ago all ali lasses classes c of livestock are selling at prices considerably lower than a year ago for example just a year ago hogs sold on oil the los angeles market at 1 lc a pound while the prevailing price lias has been around lie ile a pound for the choicest grain fed hogs beef cattle prices are a bouta cent a pound lower on the average than a year ago fat lambs are about ac a pound lower thus it may bo be seen that con sumer sare able to purchase meat pt at prices substantially under the relatively high basis of a year ago on the other hand from tho the point of view there Is a healthy demand for fat livestock at prevailing prices which represent very satisfactory returns present levels are vastly better than early in ili 1038 and growers will be pleased if the present level of prices which are fair to both producer and consumer can be constantly maintained meat consumption for the first six months of shows a gain over the same period a year ago american consumers up to june had consumed around 2089 2689 million pounds of beef and veal a loss of 4 per cent a year ago pork consumption has gained I 1 per cent lamb iamb and mutton gained 4 per cent these figures being based on oil federally inspected again the united states is exporting more pork than Is being imported according to the institute of american meat packers in 1937 1037 for tho the first time in history states the institute imports of pork exceeded exports now the I 1 united states Is again exporting more pork than Is being imported exports for the first half of 1938 1038 exceeded tho the same period la ili 1937 by 16 million pounds or 0 per cent whereas imports were about 10 million pounds or 20 26 per cent less than a year ago exports were equal to 2 per cent of domestic production imports equal to about I 1 per cent |