LIVESTOCK HIGHLIGHTS 



Massachusetts livestock producers showed variations in inventory numbers and gross income for 1983. Cattle 

 numbers were unchanged, hog numbers decreased while sheep numbers were up by the end of 1983. Gross income 

 was lower during the year for cattle and hogs but higher for sheep. 



CATTLE AND CALVES 



Cattle and calve inventory for Massachusetts on January 1, 1984 totaled 96,000 head, unchanged from the 

 previous year's record low inventory. This total includes 49,000 milk cows, 8,000 beef cows, 17,000 heifers, 

 4,000 steers and 18,000 calves. The January 1 inventory value averaged $600 per head giving a total 

 inventory value of $57.6 million, the lowest since 1979. The 1983 calf crop (calves born) was 46,000, 4 

 percent less than the previous year. Marketings during 1983 totaled 39,000 head of cattle and calves with a 

 total live weight of 16.5 million pounds. 



HOGS AND PIGS 



Massachusetts hog producers had 42,000 hogs on hand December 1, 1983, 9 percent less than the previous year 

 and the lowest on record. Value per head at $79.00, was $9.50 below 1982. The resulting total hog value on 

 December 1, 1983 was $3.3 million, the lowest since 1976. 



Hog marketings during 1983 totaled 13.9 million pounds at a price of $42.00 per cwt. This resulted in a 

 gross of $3.3 million to hog producers, 18 percent less than 1982 and the lowest since 1979. 



SHEEP, LAMBS AND WOOL PRODUCTION 



On Janaury 1, 1984, there were 8,400 sheep and lambs on Massachusetts farms, 1,700 more than a year earlier. 

 With an average value of $103.00 per head, total inventory value was $865,000, 22 percent above the previous 

 S year's value. Gross income from sheep and lambs sold, including value of home consumption, was $220,000, 32 

 percent below the 1982 income. This large drop resulted mostly from the small number of sheep marketed, 

 although prices were slightly lower in 1983. Wool production during 1983 totaled 56,000 pounds. The 

 average price of 63 cents per pound is the lowest per pound price since 1976. 



