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Show Livestock Prices Likely To R-main Near Present Level Information received from the Bureau of Agricultural Economics, United Slates Department of Agriculture, Agri-culture, indicates that prices for w.ll-finished cattle and. for lambs are likely . to continue near present levels for the next few months, WJ-liara WJ-liara Peterson, Director Utah Extension Ex-tension Serivce said last week. Prices iarmers receive for hogs, however, are expected to go down seme as they usually do during the lata fall and winter months, Mr. Peterson pointed out. But even with this usual decline, hog prices 'te expected to average at least as high as a year ago. The Bureau's easons tcr this expectation include the prospects for a smaller tonnage of hogs for market than a year ago a i:d continued good consumer demand de-mand for meats. About an average corn crop is fahiy certain for this year. Therefore, There-fore, with prospects for lower corn prices and a relatively high level of hog prices the heg-corn price ratio will be very favorable for hog feeding and hog production during the fall and winter seasons. The improved feed-grain situation also points to an increase in the number cf cattle and lambs fed this year, particularly in the Corn Belt, Mr. Pe.ersen stated. The ooKlook for sheep and lambs ras charged but little during the ipast mo. th. Marketings will be ; large this fall than in the past sum mer, but the efl'eo. of these increase-led increase-led marketings c:: prices will be largely offset by an expec:ed strong j demand lor feeder lambs in the iCorn Belt. In nud-S pcemoer cattle prices ro . .hed the highest level in about 17 years largely because of he marked mark-ed shcr age cf grain-fed cattle in the slaughter supply. Prie s of well-finished well-finished cattle a e expect to c.n-t.nue c.n-t.nue rela:ively high, Mr. Peterson said, at least until increased supplies sup-plies of grain-f d cattle become a-,' a-,' liable next winter and spring. Stacker and feeder cattle purchased pur-chased this fall will be much higher in peice .nan a year earlier, he said, but with much low.r feed prices in prospect it is beiieved that the combined com-bined cost cf feeder cattle and feed will be somewhat less than in 1935-'61. 1935-'61. On the ether hand, Mr. Petersen Peter-sen added, it is unlikely that prices I received for finished cattle during the fi st half cf 1938 will average as high as in the same period this year. Therefore, cattle feeding will! not be as profitable as it w as last j winter. I |