Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1903-10-08
STATISTICS SHOW FIGURES OF
1901 HAVE BEEN LARGE
LY EXCEEDED.
QUALITY IS GREATLY IMPROVED.
New Breeding Animals Have Been
Selected by Stock Raisers With
a View to Increased Val
ues-Losses Caused by
War and Drouth.

COLUMBIA, Mo-, Oct. Recent re-
ports received by the Missouri Board
Of Agriculture indicates the remark
able fact that the total number Of live
stock in this State is greater than in
1901. The wonderful vitality Of Mis-
souri, husbandry was never more sirik-
ingly demonstrated. In but little
more than two years after the great
drought and the Boer war, which,
taken together, caused the greatest
drain on Mlssouris live stock ever
known, the State has not only recov-
cred from the shortage, but has, to-
day, greater number Of cattle,
horsesa and mules than In 1901.
Secretary George B. Ellis, Of the
State Board Of Agriculture, said;
"The farmers and stock breeders OF
Missouri have accomplished a remark
able thing in redeeming the shortage
Of live stock, The great drought and
the Boer war left the State almost
without breeding material
SACRIFICED THEIR STOCK.
During the drought the farmers
were obliged to market most of their
live stock for lack Of water. Horses,
mules, sheep, cattle and hogs were
rushed to market and sold in many
cases, at sacrifice prices. In many
instances 1t was necessary to sell even
breeding stock. The Boer war was an
even greater drain on the live stock
resources, and Missouri horses and
mules were shipped to South Africa
by the thousand. Such shortage was
never known before In this State.
The farmers were obliged to purchase
breeding stock in order to make a new
start. Many Of them were so impov-
erished by the drought that they were
unable to do so that year. But the
following year Missouri corn came to
the rescue. The unprecedented yield
made it possible for them to purchase
breeding stock Of the very best breeds.
Most Of it was brought from the Wes-
tern States. do not mean that w'es-
tern stock is necessarily the best, but
it has been demonstrated in this case,
at least, that the farmers were fortu-
nate in their selection.
BEST STOCK IN STATES HISTORY.
II can safely say that Missouri now
has the best bred live stock In its his
tory. Not only this, but it is of bet
ter quality in every way, and will be
more profitable on the market. 1t is
only in recent years that the farmers
have begun to fully realize the fact
that breed counts for more than
weight. A 1000-pound steer of the
best quality will usually sell for more
than a 150O-pound scrub. Not only
has the breed Of the cattle been i'm
proved since the drought, but horses
and mules as we'll. 1t Is probable that
the quality of hogs and sheep has also
been improved. 1t is difficult to make
IN estimate on hogs, but reports indi-
cate an increase since 1901.
HOG CHOLERA ERADICATED.
1.-THE fact that hog cholera has been
eradicated in this State
makes large increase likely. The
recent great floods are, according to
DR.. d. f. Luckey, the State Veterina-
rian, responsible for the sudden disap-
pearance of the disease. Just before
the floods, reports received here indi-
lated that hog cholera prevailed in
almost every county. After the floods
the disease suddenly disappeared, and
there is no way to account for it ex-
,ept that it was literally washed
lway. The germs and dead bodies
we're carried of by the waters, and
show that the disease has
been practically eradicated. This is
5he theory of DR.. Luckey, after an
Investigation Of the matter.
"The next annual report will doubt
ess show an increase in the number of
hogs as well as other kinds of Missouri
i've stock. Missouri sheep are also
IN the increase. The outlook for Mis-
iouri live stock Just now is better than
or years, and indications point to still
yreater increase in the next twelve
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