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ences in the rates of liquidation of dairy cattle, the least 

 liquidation should occur in those areas producing milk for 

 direct consumption. 



Administrators of an agricultural policy cannot ignore 

 "political expediency." In fact, political strategy frequently 

 overwhelms administrative tactics. In terms of feed and la- 

 bor, hogs probably have been the most profitable type of 

 livestock. The greatest expansion has occurred in the pro- 

 duction of hogs in the Western Corn Belt states. If it were 

 proposed that these producers liquidate their hogs more than 

 other parts of the nation, or that their profitable hogs be 

 liquidated more than other types of livestock, their opposi- 

 tion would echo throughout the nation. Political expediency 

 would result in a type of liquidation that would be a com- 

 promise between "equality of sacrifice" and "national inter- 

 est." Such administrative strategy would result in a greater 

 liquidation of livestock in feed-deficit areas than would be 

 the case under a freely fluctuating price structure. Hens and 

 dairy cows, although very numerous, have few votes and 

 could not withstand the tactics of hogs and beef cattle. 



Freely fluctuating prices would automatically ration the 

 diminishing supplies of feed and thereby reduce the different 

 classes of livestock in the various areas of the United States 

 in the best interests of the nation, with a minimum of ad- 

 ministrative cost and of friction between all concerned. 



