Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-07-05
Bulletin Of the National Live Stock
Association.
CONDITIONS ARE BAD
Six Per Cent Considered a Conservative
Estimate Of the Number That
Has Succumbed.

: ly severe winter came a cold and unsea-
, sonable spring. Cold dry winds ate UP
the moisture from the SHOWS as rapidly
as it melted, and in some sections no
/ fresh grass has yet appeared. While the
season was unusually late in the north
west, taking in Montana, Idaho, Utah,
Wyoming and the Dakotas, and while
there was some drouth reported in this
section early in the season, there has re-
Gently been sufficient rains in greater
portions of these states to guarantee
plenty of feed, though the grass is late
in all sections. That section of the coun-
try lying south of a line drawn from
Los Angeles, CAL, through central Ne
vada and Utah and close to the north
ern line of Colorado, through Rawlins,
Wyo., and then southwest, taking in all
of Colorado and western Texas to the
drouth known in years. Colorado and
southern Utah and all of Arizona and
New Mexico have been almost COM
pletely without moisture or rainfall
since March. 10 make matters worse,
lnere has been constant cold, dry wind,
wnicn aesslcated the ground, and what
nttie grazing there was mas been badly
covered by urltting Sanus. III mountain
districts conditions have been somewhat
better, but the continued colu nights
rar into June las not helped conditions.
In the extreme east plenty or rainfall
is reported, While in the corn states Of
the mississippi valleys an excess OF
moisture has been the rule. While these
conditions have insured an abundance
OF hay II pasturage, it has in a few
limited sections endangered the corn
crop to a considerable extent.
Inc estimated winter loss OF stock, in
GLIDING the early spring loss Of i per
cent made in a tormer bulletin, has not
been materially changed by later re-
turns, information from all sections OF
the west showing the losses to have va
ried from 2 to Is per cent, 6 per cent be-
ing considered a conservative estimate
OF the whole. Some indication of the
number of losses may be derived from
authentic reports that las, 900 hides have
been received at Victoria, Tex; IA, 500
at Liberal, Kan; 5000 at Las Vegas, N.
M, and $500 at Panhandle, Tex, during
the past six weeks.
CALF CROP IS LIGHT.
All sections report a light calf crop
and considerable loss, owing to the cold
nights and the poor, condition of the
cows. In some portions of the Pan
handle of Texas, Oklahoma, Indian Ter
ritory, New Mexico and southeastern
Colorado the losses from this cause
reached as high as 20 per cent.
The spring movement of cattle has |
been lighter than usual. The movement |
from the south was late starting, and
the bulk of the cattle moved went to the
northwest, the movement that way
showing an increase over last season of
fully 30 pei cent, but a falling off in the
Missouri valley states of fully so per
cent. This movement, however, is fully
IS per cent below that for many years
prior to 1898. Prices have ranged lower
a year ago on this class of cattle.
The drouth in the south and rather
crowded ranges induced more liberal
on the close Of the season. All
the cattle moved consisted Of yearlings
and a few 2-year-olds, there being moth
ing In sight above those ages.
The movement from the west was
very light. This was due to two causes.
In the first place there were less cattle
In the country to be moved, and in the
the scarcity Of cattle on the Pa
cif1c coast has made such a strong de-
mand at home that not only are the
cattle on the coast remaining at home
this season, but the demand is drawing
on h supplies in Montana, Idaho and
Utah. The result has been a strong de-
mand for this class of cattle at prices
higher than a veal ago, and the
for the fall is not considered
good for anything like an average run.
supply of feeders for the fall will
from Colorado, Utah and the Pan
handle of Texas. There will be a few
from New Mexico and a few
from Wyoming, but the first named Sec
will supply the big end of the de-
nand.
Reports from northern ranges are to
he effect that grass fat cattle will be
ate in moving, and will be fewer in
numbers than in previous years. Esti-
mates Of the decrease in supply vary
rom 40 to 80 per cent. In eastern Colo
ado, western Kansas and Nebraska
are more young cattle grazing
han a year ago, but few Of them are
to be fit for beef, but will
'ather go to market as feeders. All Sec
ions report almost no steers above the
lge Of 2 years, and the bulk Of the feed
IFS are expected to be young cattle.
SHEEP LOSSES HEAVY.
Reports as to winter losses on sheep
IRE rather more definite than on cattle,
Ind indicate a loss Of from 70 to 30 per
'ent. Probably 15 per cent would be a
conservative estimate. Cold nights were
lad on lambing in nearly every section.
md losses have been heavy, few Sec
ions reporting over so per cent Of a
'rop, and some as low as 40 per cent.
IDAHO, Wyoming and Montana report
most successful lamb crops; Utah only ,
air; New Mexico, Colorado and Arizo-
Ia and extreme western Texas, very i
'ad. In the southwest the drouth left I
20 little feed for the ewes that in many
the lambs were killed to save !
he mothers; and the herds are kept
live only by cutting down brush and
,oung trees along dry creeks or the ]
oothills for them to browse upon. A I
leavy loss will result to the Utah sheep