LIVESTOCK HIGHLIGHTS 



Massachusetts livestock producers showed a decline in both inventory numbers and gross income. There were 

 reduced numbers of cattle, hogs and sheep by the end of 1982. Gross income was also lower during the year, 

 but this reduction was the result of a big drop in cattle and calves since sheep and hog gross income were 

 above 1981 by 14 and 39 percent respectively. Gross income from cattle and calves was 30 percent below the 

 previous year. 



CATTLE AND CALVES 



The inventory of cattle and calves in Massachusetts on January 1, 1983 totaled 96,000 head, down 2,000 head 

 from a year earlier. The inventory consisted of 48,000 milk cows, 9,000 beef cows, 17,000 heifer replacements, 

 4,000 steers and bulls and 18,000 calves. The inventory value on January 1, 1983 averaged $715 per head, $85 

 less than the record high on January 1, 1982. This plus the reduced number of cattle and calves caused the 

 current inventory value to be only $68.6 million, 12 percent below the previous year and 16 percent below tine 

 record high inventory value of 1981. Marketings in 1982 of 40,000 head of cattle and calves, with a total 

 live weight of 17.6 million pounds, was 7.1 million pounds below the 1981 total marketings. The 1983 calf 

 crop (calves born) was 48,000 head, 2 percent larger than 1981. 



HOGS AND PIGS 



Massachusetts hog producers had 46,000 hogs on hand December 1, 1982, 6 percent less than the previous year 

 and the lowest amount since records were kept in 1916. Record high value per head ($88.50) enabled total hog 

 value to be nearly $4.1 million, 4 percent above a year earlier and the highest since 1978. Total pig crop 

 was 7 percent above last year's record low. The 61,000 hogs marketed in 1982 represented an 11 percent in- 

 crease above year ago levels. Massachusetts hog production exceeded 14.5 million pounds, 10 percent above 

 the previous year, while the 14.4 million pounds of hogs marketed, represented an increase of 12 percent. 

 Record price per cwt. ($54.00) enabled hog producers to gross nearly 8.1 million dollars, 39 percent above 

 a year earlier and the largest amount since 1979. 



SHEEP, LAMBS AND WOOL PRODUCTION 



On January 1, 1983, there were 6,700 sheep and lambs on hand, 1,300 fewer than a year earlier. Of this num- 

 ber, 4,800 were ewes one year old and over, 500 wethers and rams one year old and over, and 1,400 lambs. At 

 an average of $106.00 per head, the value of the inventory was $710,000, 19 percent below the year-ago value. 

 Gross income from sheep and lambs sold, including the value of home consumption, was $326,000, 14 percent 

 above the 1981 income. Wool production totaled 50,000 pounds in 1982, 1,000 pounds more than the previous 

 year. This wool was obtained from 7,600 sheep, up 600 from the 1981 number. Average fleece weight in 1982 

 was 6.6 pounds, compared with 7.0 pounds in 1981. At an average price of 66 cents per pound, the wool pro- 

 duced in 1982 had a value of $33,000, $11,000 less than the value of the 1981 wool. 



