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tar# on Tharsday. Tb# department offer* it to farmers with the warn, ing that no one can predict prices pnd be right al/ the time.)
CATTLE
There’# nothing new in the immediate cattle price out look - just the same general downward trend as marketings pick up.
But thert’s news in,the January 1 livestock inventory report. For the First time in seven years, the U. S. shows fewer cattle than tne preceding year - this time 2% fewer the smallest number since 1953, and 12% above the 1946-1955 average.
A breakdown on this inventory shows milk cows and heifers down 1% they were already 5% below the 10 year average. Young milk heifers, 1 to 2 years old, down 1 %. In beef cattle, all beef types - making up 64 % of the total numbers were down 2%; cows 2 years and older, down 3%; heifers 1* to 2 over, down 2%; steers a year and years old, down 2CA ; and calves down 1%. older, down 3:% I heifers 1 to 2
That just’Wight indicate that the cattle production cycle - which by rule-of-thum is said to be eight years - might either be changing - some as farmers watch statistics more closely.
In Virginia, it’s time to begin to think of the spring staktr-feeder cattle sales which begin April 9th. Getting a headstart toward good condition on the animals you plan to sell should pay off.
The next fat cattle sale in Virginia is set for Richmond on March 4th. Prices at these sales have betn comparing favorably with others markets. At the sale last week, choice steers averaged $20.; good grade steers, $13.40
HOGS
We've passed the winter peak in
63.6%