OCR Text |
Show Cattle Marketings Near Panic Stage According to the U.S.D.A. marketing mar-keting of cattle almost reached panic proportions last month. Slaughter was up 44 per cent from last year at major markets and marketing of calves was up 38 per cent over the same period In 1952. ; At the beginning of 1953, farm-: ers and ranchers had 93.7 million head of cattle and calves, accord-ing accord-ing to estimates. A normal yearly slaughter from such a herd is about 38 per cent. To date the rate of slaughter is ; about 24 per cnt over the rate of slaughter for the corresponding period of 1952. Although prices were considerable consider-able lower than last year and the year before, they could hare been 1 even lower if pork supplies bad I not been sharply reduced during ! the period and employment and ; consumer buying power were not I at an all-time high level. I The U. S. D. K. has indicated in : previous reports that tbe increased marketing trend Is likely to eon-j eon-j tinue through June. |