( 83 ) 



^^^^^^ . 



stock consumed more than the normal amount of protein 

 feed. 



Although the government has seen fit to hold down the 

 prices of the high-protein feeds, it has not taken on the job 

 of rationing these products. The rationing of sugar, gasoline, 

 and coffee is child's play compared with the intricate prob- 

 lems that would be involved in the rationing of the many 

 kinds of high-protein feeds to the different kinds of livestock 

 of varying ages and requirements in the many sections of 

 the United States during the different seasons of the year. 



We have rationed the high-protein foods for man on the 

 basis of everyone sharing and sharing alike, from the new- 

 born babe to the coal miner. This system, which has but one 

 justification, simplicity of administration, cannot be applied 

 to the rationing of livestock's nutritious, highly prized pro- 

 tein feeds. If it were, the chickens would have title to seventy 

 per cent of these feeds. This would be so inequitable that 

 practically every livestock-producer would be forced to vio- 

 late the letter and the intent of the ruling. 



Barter Economy 



When supplies become short and ceiling prices are too low, 

 black markets and a barter economy spring up. At the high 

 prices for livestock and the low prices of high-protein feeds, 

 there was a scarcity of high-protein feeds in the Corn Belt. 

 It has been proposed that the farmers exchange a part of 

 their soybeans for soybean meal and a part of their hogs for 

 tankage. This has taken place. As a result, more tankage ac- 

 cumulated in the hands of certain farmers and dealers than 

 could be used. Others visited the farmers and dealers and 

 bought the excess at high prices. Some of the tankage later 

 appeared in the Eastern poultry ration. Since the tankage 

 was a small proportion of the poultry ration, the high price 

 was absorbed. 



