LIVESTOCK REVIEW 

 1979 



CATTLE : 



The January 1, 1980 inventory of cattle and calves on Massachusetts farms totaled 103,000 head, 8 per- 

 [cent above a year earlier and 4 percent above January 1, 1978. Total value of the 1980 inventory was $70 

 million, an increase of $16.8 million from 1979. This increase resulted from both, increase in cattle 

 numbers and value per head. The January 1, 1980 per head value of $680 is a record value. The inventory 

 [break down by classes shows milk cows declining in numbers, with other classes showing either increases or 

 no change from 1979. 

 HOGS : 



December 1, 1979 inventory of hogs and pigs on Massachusetts farms totaled 60,000, unchanged from both 

 1978 and 1977. Of the total, 15 percent or 9,000 head were breeding animals while 51,000 were intended for 

 narket. Farmers marketed 17.8 million pounds of pork during 1979 compared to 16.6 million during 1978. 

 Due to the increased marketings, gross income from hogs and pigs totaled $8,138,000, 4 percent above the 

 jrevious year. 

 ;HEEP and LAMBS : 



Massachusetts sheep growers indicated 7,100 head of sheep and lambs on hand January 1, 1980, 6 percent 

 ibove the previous year. Value of the 1980 flock totaled $557,000, with average value per head at $78.50. 

 This was well above the $63.00 per head average on January 1, 1979. Market prices for sheep increased 

 il.OO per hundredweight during 1979 and averaged $39.00 per hundredweight for sheep and $85.00 per hundred- 

 weight for lambs. There was 191,000 pounds of lamb and mutton sold during 1979 for a gross income of 

 il99,000. This was down 12 percent from 1978 and a direct result of the decreased marketings. 

 JOOL: 



Massachusetts wool producers sheared 6,600 head during 1979 for a total wool production of 45,000 

 Dounds. The price per pound for sheared wool was a record 84 cents and returned a gross $38,000 to Bay 

 jtate wool producers. 



