The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-03-05
LIVE STOCK CENSUS
SYNOPSIS OF THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, .

The United States department Of agri-
culture has this week made public its an
nual census Of live stock, which, however,
presents too formidable an array of figures
for our available space, but we give here
with digest Of the principal points COM
piled by the Chicago Live Stock report:
There We're in this country on JAM, 1,
17,419,S17 mich cows with an average
value of SEAL, as against 17,106,227 valued
at one dollar per head higher on Jan. 1,
1903. "Other CATTLE" at first of present
year are returned at 43,629, 49S, valued at
S712,17S134. or an average Of 1852 per
head. This valuation Is slightly over 81
per head lower than for either 1903 or 1902,
while the number of head of cattle shows
a decrease of over 100000 as compared
with each Of the two preceding years. = 80
Sheep have also fallen off heavily. On
Jan. / there We're 51,630,144 head, COM
pared with 3,964.S76 in 1903, and s., o39, os1
in 1902. The average value. however,
$3.50 per head Is only 4@6 cents below the
two former years. '->' d ~ -
The hog population has increased slight
ly showing an aggregate of 47,009,367,
compared with 46,922,624 in 1908 and 49,
$685. 800 in 1902; average value Jan. l, $6.15
pr head, against SITS last year and $7.03
in 1902. .,..: 49,.
The number of horses is given as 49,
736.059, against 16557,373 in 1903, and 49,
533.224 in 1902. The value per head is
higher than for the last two years, being
$67.9s compared with s6225 in 1908, and
$5S.61 in 1902.
There were 2,757,s 16 mules In the coun-
try at the beginning Of the present year
being small increase over the 2,728,058
recorded year ago, but practically the
same as in 1902. The present average val
lie is given as $685. compared with 1874
in 1908, and $67.61 in 1902. Undoubtedly
the rise in mule values may be attributed
to the South African war, which afforded
an outlet for many thousands of American
mules at high prices.
| The total value Of live stock in the
United States foots up to the stupendous
total of s2,99S, 227, 479, which, however, Is
a decrease of s104,00o,000 from the esti-
mated value year ago, but a gain Of over
100000 as compared with 1902 s
In mich cows New York heads the list
with 1,655,328, while the greatest number
of other cattle are found in Texas which
has $685., $3.50. Montana heads the sheep
list with 5,270,063, Wyoming coming next
with 4,602, 658 Iowa Is the premier hog
state, her porcine population numbering
| 1854 26S.
While these figures cannot in the nature
Of things be strictly accurate in every
particular vet they are the official govern
ment estimates, compiled from the best
sources at their command, and as such
are, perhaps. as reliable as it is possible
to obtain The difficulties in the way OF
an absolutely accurate live stock census
are we'll nigh insurmountable, and sta
tistics dealing with that industry contain
at best more or less guess work. Com.
parisons however. hold good with figures
from the same sources for former years
and the census no doubt fairly reflects the
condition Of the live stock industry at the
present time numerically considered.