The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1872-11-07
THE LIVE STOCK OF IOWA

At this season Of the year It Is inter-
esting to know the number and value
of cattle, swine and sheep IN our State
as compared with the past year. an Il
aids in determining the prospective
price OF beef, young cattle, pork, stock
Hon. John Russell, Auditor Of State,
has furnished US with copy ofthe CEN
sus taken by the Assessor last spring,
giving the number and value Of the
horses, cattle, swine, sheep and mules,
as returned by them TO the County
Auditors. s f.1ssit
As the assessment is taken princi-
pally in the months of February and
March, the number and value should
date at that time.
BY this table we learn that there
were Of cattle, LOS, ,257, valued at SILL.
S27,8Z7. Last year the number of cat
tie was 959, 600, valued at $ll,832,84
1t will be noticed that while the mum.
Der has increased during the year lO5,-
657, the value is $5Ol3 less than last
year, showing that while there has
been . satisfactory increase in number
the decline in value has been so great
as to exceed the value Of the entire in.
crease.
The number OF swine this year is
1,243, ,S92, valued at $2,621 eco, or but
$2.02 per head.
Last year the number of hogs was
1,O0S,67l, valued at e, $50, ,6S1, showing
an increase In numbers Of 23a22l, but
. decrease in value of 462, 2,ONl. We
have no means Of knowing what the
increase has been since March, but It
has undoubtedly been very large rs
corn has been cheap, and the price of
pork low, SO that farmers have gener.
ally raised all the pigs possible to eat
the surplus corn.
The corn crop this year is very large
again, and as their seems to be no de-
ficiency in hogs, we must come to the
conclusion that as far as Iowa is con-
cerned there win be large increase
In the pounds of pork produced aud
put upon the market this fall and win
ter; and owing to the abundant crop
Of corn, with large surplus held over
from last year, low price of hogs and
corn, the high freights, there must be
q good demand for stock and store
hogs at fair prices 1t would, there.
fore, seem to be the best policy for
farmers to feed literally. make heavy
hogs, and keep your stock hogs in
good condition, raise hogs to eat the
corn. for that is the best way TO mar
kct the great corn crop where there
are not cattle to eat 1t. The same rea.
sons will tend to cause good demand
for steers to feed, and ought to induce
the better feeding of beef cattle. Iowa
annually loses hundreds OF thousands
of dollars by sending beef cattle to
market but partially fattened, for they
bring. but about. half the price per
hundred Of well fSstened cattle. and
weighing much lighter, the loss is very
great. s 7lpr,ss
We trust that during this yesr OF
cheap corn AMI great surplus that our
feeders will resolve to make better
beet, and the better prices obtained
will most certainly induce them to con.
tinue the practice after one trial.
Our beef that is kept at home is gem
orally but half fattened, when we
might and should have the best beef in
the country. Let us resolve to take
this occasion of cheap corn to inaug-
urate reform that will not only be
profitable to the farm. er, but most sat-
isfacfory to the purchaser and consum.
er.-IOrd Homestead.