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Show Livestock Situation LOS ANGELES, January 22, 1935 Figures just released by the United States Department of Agriculture Agri-culture indicate a huge increase in slaughter of cattle in the United States last year. The total for 1934 under Federal inspection alone was 13,263,296, by far the largest twelve months' slaughter in all history and comparing with the large slaughter of 8,655,259 in 1933, an increase of 53 per cent- A very large percentage percen-tage of the increased slaughter of course represents emergency slaughter slaugh-ter of cattle from drouth areas. How- ever, this accounts for only a portion por-tion of the increase. Animals slaughtered under Federal inspection inspec-tion do not represent the total slaughter in the United States-Hog States-Hog slaughter represented a decided de-cided decrease despite the heavy forced movement of unfinished pigs and sows to market on account of drouth- The total U. S. hog slaughter slaugh-ter under Federal inspection amounted amount-ed to 43,586,254 head against 47,225,-518 47,225,-518 in 1933. A much greater decrease de-crease in hog slaughter is anticipated antici-pated in 1935. The first few weeks of the year give an indication of the extent of the probable decrease and at the same time, the sharp upward trend in hog prices reflect the decreased de-creased number of hogs being slaughtered- Hog prices at this time are practically double the prices of a year ago- Earlier in January a 200-pound hog sold on the Los Angeles market for as high as $18.00 while the same grade of hogs a year ago would have brought only $8.00 on the same market-Slaughter market-Slaughter of sheep and lambs under un-der Federal inspection in 1934 was very little changed, being 17,317,663 neainst 17.353,550 in 1933. When it is considered that a great many ewes were slaughtered in the gov-I gov-I emment's drouth relief program, it I will be seen that the actual volume I of lamb and mutton sold on the ; markets was smaller last year than i in the year previous. A further de-j de-j cline in lamb slaughter is antici-1 antici-1 pa ted in 1935- j Moisture conditions in the coun- try as a whole give much greater j nromise of favorable crons than was 1 the case last year. California and Arizona have had exceptionally fine rains with the result that winter feed conditions are far ahead of normal. Reports oi neavv snow-; storms in the solder states give j promise of improved range and pas- j tnre conditions as well as improve- j mont of soil for putting in spring i crops- j With supplies of livestock of all kinds greatly decreased and indications indica-tions of far better croo conditions, the outlook for the livestock fraternity fra-ternity seems better than has been the cast durine the past several years- While there are many in the trade who feel that supplies of pork will be far below normal domestic i requirements, there is no real dan e-er of a meat famine in this coun-rrv coun-rrv providine we have fairly favorable favor-able cron conditions durinsr the vnnr. But it is evident that those j Ti-ho are abV? to carry on in the' livetork business will find a more ; fmYrahlp outlet for their nroducts and a vastly improved price structure- j |