Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-11-06
Short Supply Of Cattle.

Attention has recently been called to
the decline in the number of food ami
mails since 1892 at time when the pop
ulation was increasing rapidly. But
as such decline is, 1t is
still more interesting when one attempts
an explanation. Why should the num-
ber of cattle, sheep and swine fall be-
tween 1892 and 1899 from 151 40, 900
head to l21, 10000 head when the pop
ulstion was increasing from s., 900, 900 to
75, 100000? Yet there was q steady de
cline until 1900, when q slight increase
in the number of milch cows, heavier
increase in sheep and only nominal
decline in beef cattle indicated an up
ward trend. In milch cattle, there
has been practically no absolute decline
In numbers since 1892, there has been
no increase, and consequently relatively
to the population considerable decline.
In beef cattle there has been decline
from 1861, 900 head to 27,610,0OO head;
SO that the total supply of mich and
beef cattle per thousand of population
was only 5S5 head in 1900 against 1926
head 1892 Nor has this decline in beef
been balanced by increases in the sur-
plies of mutton or pork; for the num-
ber of sheep has fallen from AZ, 273, 900
to Al ,sS3, 900 and the number of swine
from 50, 100000 to 38,651, 900.
Under these circumstances one would
naturally expect so lively demand fol-
cattle and hogs that the price of those
products would be considerably above
what they were in 1892. But as mat.
ter of fact, cattle and hog prices are
practically where they were in 1892
Nor, on the other hand, caa the fall in
prices in consequence of the CONNER
cial depression of 1S94-6 be assigned al
the immediate cause for the failure ot
the farmer and cattle men to keep uI
their herds for the decline in the
number of cattle and hogs began before
the prices of those animals began t
fall. Indeed, considering the cheap
ness of corn and other foodstuf unit
1897, 1t was certainly not the compar
atiye smsllness of the profit that induc
ed the decline in the supplies of csttl
and hogs.
A partial explanation of the fact tha
prices have.only maintained the level o
4 1892, in spite of the decline in suppl
! and the increased consuming power, ma
possibly be found in the relativel
greater product procured by presen
methods of handling. II the aversg
weight of cattle and hogs by improve
ment in breeding and feeding incress
ten per cent, it is clear that there coul
be corresponding reduction In th
. number of cattle and hogs with no rel
loss In the supply available. A certai
amount of improvement In the sverse
, weight has undoubtedly taken plac
Moreover, Improvements In shippin
!. facilities and In the organization of Il
markets have, probably prevented Ga
: rlfice of many cattle and hogs that uss
to be wasted by unintelllgent klllin
j. for it is clear that the larger the propo
tion of animals slaughtered by the COZ
t panies which make use of every oun
!, In the most economical way the larg
o will be the percentage that is saved f
Q food. Probably, however, the sha
y competition between the packing hous
d and the great economics in producti'
b they have been able to effect has be-
d the principal factor In determining t
70 price paid for cattle and hogs and I
d their products. For they are credit
with being content with small msrgi