Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-10-19
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 re-
markable as such decline is. 1t is still
more interesting when one attempts an
explanation. Why should the number
of cattle, sheep and swine fall between
1892 and 1899 from 151,404,0 900 head to
12l, 900 head when the population was
increasing from 65,Oo0,00 to $4,000. 900 2,
Yet there was steady decline until
1900, when a slight increase in the num-!
Der of nilch cows, a heavier increase in,
sheep and only nominal decline in
beef cattle indicated an upward trend.
In mich cattle, tho there has been prac-
locally no absolute decline in numbers
since 1892, there has been no increase,
and consequently relatively to the popu-
lation considerable decline. In beef
cattle there has been decline from 81
e51,O 900 head to 27.610,000 head: 30 that
the total supply of mich and beef cattle
per thousand OF population was only 5S5
head in 1900 against s26 head in 1892.
Nor has this decline in beef been bal
anced by increases in the supplies of
mutton or pork; for the number of
sheep has fallen from 47,273,oO0 to A.
49,, 600 and the number Of swine from
| 50, 100000 to 3S.651,000.
Under these circumstances one would
naturally expect so lively demand for
cattle and hogs that the prices of those
products would be considerably above
what they were in 1892. But az matter
of fact cattle and hog prices are prac-
tically where they were in 1892. Nor, on
the other hand, can the fall in prices In
consequence OF the commercial depres-
sion of 1896 be assigned as the imme-i
diate cause for the failure of the farm
ers anc cattle men to keep up their
herds, for the decline In the number of
cattle end hogs began before the prices
of those animals began to fall. Indeed.
considering the cheapness of corn and
other foodstuffs until 1897, 1t was GER
Iitainly not the comparative smallness Of
1 the profit that induced the decline in the
supplies of cattle and hogs.
A partial explanation of the fact that
prices have only maintained the level
of 1882 in spite OF the decline in supply
Land the increase In consuming power.
lSmay possibly be found in the relatively
greater product procured by present
methods of handling. If the average
weight OF cattle and hogs by improve
ments in breeding and feeding increases
10 per cent, it is clear that there could
4 be corresponding reduction in the
number of cattle and hogs with no real
loss In the supply available. A certain
amount OF improvement in the average
weight has undoubtedly taken place.
| Moreover, Improvements in shipping fa-
4 cilities and in the organization of the
markets have probably prevented the
sacrifice Of many cattle and hogs that
fused to be wasted by unintelligent kill
ling: for 1t is clear that the larger the
proportion of animals slaughtered by
1.-THE companies which make use of every
ounce in the most economical way the
larger will be the percentage that Is
saved for food. Probably, however. the
sharp competition between the packing
houses and the great economics In pro-
duction which they have been able to
| effect has been the principal factor in
1 determining the prices paid for cattle
and hogs and for their products. For
they are credited with being content
1 with small margins-a policy that would
make them resist every permanent au-
vance in cattle prices as long as pos
sible.
4 AT the same time, with improved re-
4 frigerator service, more efficient distri-
button. and consequently growing
market for domestic and export beef
and hog products, there is room for an
'|expansion in the supply of cattle and
alhogs, and there is no better state to
l grow and feed the former than Minne-
u sofa.