130 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 



NATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS 



In determining live-stock production policies for Illinois it is 

 necessary to approach the subject from a national as well as a state 

 standpoint. 



Speaking generally, live-stock production has not kept pace with 

 the increase in population. It might be expected that this growing 

 tendency would bring about a shortage which would favorably affect 

 prices of live stock in the markets of the country, and to such an extent 

 that live-stock production would be stimulated. The fact is however 

 that, disregarding the war period, the margin of profit in the produc- 

 tion of beef, mutton and pork has been narrowing for a considerable 

 number of years. In very many cases it has disappeared altogether, 

 and not infrequently very large losses have resulted. 



It is, I believe, literally true that one of the largest factors 

 affecting live-stock production policies has been the fact that farmers 

 find it increasingly difficult to make the finishing of beef cattle 

 profitable. The anticipated shortage has failed to materialize, largely, 

 it is believed, because of the falling off of our export demand for beef, 

 due to the competition of Argentina, which has the advantage from 

 the standpoint of cheapness of production. Similar analysis might 

 be made of the mutton and wool industries. Looking forward, it is 

 logical to anticipate that the competition in the meat markets of the 

 world by such countries as Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and South 

 Africa will increase rather than diminish. Just what effect that will 

 have upon live-stock production in Illinois and the United States 

 should be given the most careful consideration. These facts are 

 stated to emphasize the international aspects of live-stock production. 



DEMAND FOR ECONOMY IN PRODUCTION AND IN MARKETING 



No proper consideration of the outlook for live stock in Illinois 

 can be complete without due regard to the trend of production and 

 an examination of the causes of such tendencies. It is reasonable 

 to conclude that in the main these tendencies are the normal result 

 of changing conditions which are likely to continue to operate and 

 which are certain to affect the agricultural policy of the state. 



From the standpoint of the live-stock producer, any condition 

 or circumstance which stimulates production abnormally, whether due 

 to temporary high prices or to zealous advocates, is likely to be 

 followed by disastrous results to the producer. On the other hand, 

 depressing conditions which tend to large reduction in our flocks and 

 herds, threaten the normal supply of meat and are therefore of con- 



