Show MUT m S director peterson says shortage anticipated to end next spring that the temporary shortage of meat supplies and current reduced numbers of livestock on farms are the direct result of last years unprecedented drought is pointed out by director william peterson of the utah state agricultural college extension service what many people city c consumers in particular fall to realize is the close relationship that exists between meat supplies and livestock feed supplies director peterson says therefore consumers have been easily misled by those opposed to agricultural adjustment into believing that current small livestock and slaughter supplies have resulted d from the so called little pig program of two tw 0 years ago the 1934 corn com hog contract and the drought livestock purchases last year meat supplies are determined by the number of livestock coming to market and market supplies of livestock depend largely upon the quantity and cheapness of feed available when the harvest of feed is small as was waa the case last year the numbers of livestock going to market the following year is always small this is especially true with regard to hogs director peterson continues for each year hogs consume nearly one half of the nations corn crop last year the orn corn crop was cut a billion bushels by by one of the worst droughts in the history of this country hence the sharp reduction in the hog population and the small numbers of hogs now going to market the production of oats and barley dropped more than 50 per cent and the total supplies of feed grains harvested in 1931 equalled equal led but 60 per cent of the average for the five years from 1928 to 1932 hay production upon which cattle depend heavily for winter feed dropped over 40 per cent from the five year average and in many sections pastures failed completely this great reduction in feed supplies can only be attributed to last years drought for the harvest of hay and emergency crops and crops planted on the 36 million acres held out of corn wheat cotton and tobacco more than equalled equal led in feeding value the amount of corn that may have been raised last year on the 13 million acres held out of corn As As a result of greatly reduced crops of feed grains hay and forage by the drought last year large numbers of livestock were sold to bring about a balance between livestock and feed supplies in order that remaining animals on farms could be maintained through the winter and spring and until a new crop of feed would become available but this forced liquidation director peterson points out would have been much greater and more severe on consumers if the adjustment programs affecting meat animals had not brought about an advanced reduction of hog numbers and thereby saved millions of bushels of corn and other feed for use last fall and winter when livestock feed was greatly needed livestock and slaughter supplies will continue short throughout the year recent government reports however are encouraging the number of sows bows to farrow this fall will be about 20 per cent higher than last fall hogs will be marketed at heavier weights this winter than a year ago and larger in arke tings of grain fed cattle are expected pecked ex on the market during the first half of 1936 than during the corresponding period in 1935 it is anticipated therefore that the shortage in meat supplies will terminate by next spring |