The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-01-03
CATTLE SHIPMENTS FROM STATE
FALLING OFF.
TWENTY PER CENT DECLINE
Board of Stock Commissioners Files
Its Annual Report With
Governor.

The annual report of the state
board of stock commissioners, signed
by President John T. Murphy and Sec
rotary w. G.. Pruitt, was filed with the
governor last Tuesday. The report
is quite lengthy and covers all the
operations of the board during the
year just ended. OF the condition of
the stock business and the states out
put for the veal the report says:
"The working of the inspection
system both at the markets and with
in the borders of the state, has been
most satisfactory during 1901. While
the preceding winter was a very mild
one and favorable to the live stock
interests, the spring was an excep-
~tionally dry one and the outlook for
feed for the summer was most dis
couraging. However, heavy and con-
tinuous rains fell during May and
June thereby ensuring an abundant
growth of grassland beef matured
quite as early as usual, the first ship
ments commencing about the first of
August.
Output of Beef Cattle.
"The total number of cattle shipped
from the state shows a decrease of
about rs per cent from the previous
years shipments, there having been
a total of 80, 900 head shipped during
the year, 800 of which were sent to
the markets of Seattle and Portland
and 1871 were shipped out to other
states for feeding purposes. The num-
Der used to supply the home markets
and the Indian agencies within the
go 900 Matchmaking the total beef
output for 1901 aggregate 1852 900 head
of cattle, a net decrease of 20 per cent.
"Of the total number inspected there
were 5,S43 head of strays recovered
by the inspectors. proceeds of 1891 OF
which we're paid to the owners
through the Montana Stock Growers
association, while the remaining 1882
head were, paid direct to the owners,
who in many cases have arranged with
their commission houses to make di-
The Canadian stockmen have adopted
a system of inspection similar to our
own and as a result of this work we
received returns for 80 head of Mon
ANA strays found and sold across the
line.
improving in Quality.
'sThe high price of stock cattle and
young steers has been maintained
through the past year and as a result
there have probably been fewer cattle
put in on the ranges than if prices
had been more reasonable for this
class of stock. AS it was, about Is, 900
head of cattle were brought into the
state and turned on the ranges. 376 Of
these being fine breeding stock. There
is a growing tendency to import fine
stock for breeding purposes so that
the quality of Montana livestock is
constantly improving among the ranch
and range cattle.
The Horse Market.
"The horse market during the past
year has continued as good or better
than during the preceding year-and
as a result horse shipments were still
heavier during 1901 than in any pre-
vious year in the history of the state.
The agents of the English government
have bought a large number of horses
in this state, the average price paid
being a very satisfactory one. The
total shipments of horses were "a. ZOO
head. most of which were marketed at
Chicago, st. Paul, Sioux City and
Omaha, while a not inconsiderable
number were shipped into adjoining
states and there peddled out amongst
the farming element. Our inspectors
recovered 81 head of stray horses in
the past year, returns for which were
made to the respective owners. The
Law relating to the inspection OF
horses was amended by the
last legislature so as to make
it's provisions still more strin
gent and it is believed that very few
horses have been taken out of the
state without inspection. About loo
head of horses were shipped into Mon
tana from the west.
THE law relative to the inspection
of horses does not yet work altogether
satisfactory and some further amend
ments will be made to it, if possible
to afford still further protection tt
horse owners.