Fergus County argus., 1902-04-23
There is Noticeable Shortage in the
Supply and Big Demand for
Range Cattle.
OUTLOOK WAS NEVER BETTER
Beef Supply on the Chicago Market
Short and Selling at Sc per Hun.
dred-Small Loss This Winter.

+'N"'"ho iahbc Satlle mtl, dccOTu-
ing to the present outlook, who have
cattle to ship to market this year, are
going TO make money. There is a
shortage in the supply, and the mark
cts will have room for all the range
cattle that are shipped. whether they
be feeders or beef animals. Among
the visitors in Helena. come to attend
the meeting of the North Montana
Roundup association. says the Inde-
pendent, is r. p. Herren, the chief
inspector at Chicago of the Montana
Stockgrowers association. Mr.. Her.
en- has been on the Chicago market
number OF years and is as well
posted on the situation as any man
who was In attendance on the meet.
ing.
THE outlook for range cattle was
never better to my knowledge than
1t is this year" said Mr.. Heren yes
terday, Corn has been so high that
comparatively few cattle have been
fed this winter, and there Is an actual
shortage of cattle now. Corn brings
50 cents bushel, and owing to the
drouth last year the number of cat
tie fed In comparison with previous
years. was small. There are few top
cattle received on the Chicago mark
ct now, and notwithstanding the fact
that the receipts are largely made up
of half fed cattle, they bring close to
81 hundred. This means good mon
ey for the animals. Several Montana
men have shipped cattle to Chicago
this spring and they have netted $50.
$50 and $40 a head. Every man in
Montana who has fed this winter and
shipped to market has made good
money.
do not see how there can be any
decided change toward lower prices
this season. Even II the middle west
feeders start in now to get cattle
ready for market. they will not be in
condition for market before the grass
es are. and the range cattle will have
the best of IL.
From all | can learn Montana cat
tlemen have been particularly lucky
this year. The loss from the winter
has really been nothing. believe
that in two instances several hundred
head were lost, not SO much because
OF hard winter, but because In bliz-
zard cattle were driven over a preci-
pice. and were piled up and smother
ed by drifting snow. This happened,
! believe. in the eastern part Of the
state. There were, ! believe, two
cases OF that sort. and outside of that
| have not heard OF any losses. Il
is true the grass has not begun to
come, but there is plenty of time for
good rains and good ranges. Last
year many Montana cattlemen held
back all cattle that were not in prime
condition. because there was no de-
mand for feeder cattle. These ami
mails have come through ythe winter
in good shape. have another year to
their credit. and will. IL In good condi-
tion, bring good prices this year. This
is the silver lining of the drouth of
last year to the Montana cattlemen.
Sheep have not advanced in price
as have cattle" said Mr.. Heren, but
they have commanded good prices.
Some Montana men who fed in this
state this winter and then finished
their sheep on screenings for a month
in the east, sold at a good profit.
The high price OF beef has naturally
created more demand for mutton, and
all classes of live stock have been
benefited"