Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-02-07
81 ouis Iixestock.
An Impending Beef Scarcity.

livestock World.1
Had anyone yentured to forecast the
current hog shortage two years ago rid
icule would have greeted him. De-
creased supply oracles have not been
in good repute and the productive ca
pacity of the country was, until recent
~, regarded as unlimited. Far-slghted
people prophesied hog scarcity, out
failed to gain credence. When their
forecasts were verified, surprise was OF
genuine character, the forecast having
been forgotten. Supply students are
now promising repetition in cattle OF
what has happened In hogs' anu one
has but to survery the bovine process
sion arnbline shambleward to realize
that drag-netting process is in pro-
gress. Fortuitous circumstances have
| made it a drastic one. The claim mas
been advanced that cattle supply shows
no conspicuous diminution, but char-
acter exhibits such marked deterlofa-
ton and weight is SO deficient as 10
make argument as to the dlsposltlon Oh
statistics to prevaricate unnecessary.
The same Invaluable heralds OF snort
age that blew such stentorian plasts IN
hogdom are even now announcing WHAT
is to happen in cattle circles. The pres
ent drain on supply resources can not
continue Indefinitely and is, IN the ma
tire If things. merely prelude to the
neriod when abstinence from beef eat
ing now a, mere fad, will be imperative
with many, partially at least.
circumstances wholly beyond controi
of feeders filled January cattle markets
in the west and for the moment cheap
beef is compromising for scarce anu
dear pork The term is used aoVlsealy'
{
as at no time has beef Deen expensive
Had forced marketing been unneces-
sary, the price Of that community
would have been higher. and, but 1or
senseless hub-hub. would nave atefac'-
! ed no attention.
AZ il is cattle by the hundred thou
| sand have been cashed regardless Oh
! condition weeks in advance of the time
originally intended. Gains have been
disanpointing. feed, especially nay, mas
SCARED to prohibitive prices, and, to cap
the climax. agitation has DESTROYED
nroducers' confidence in the market fu-
ture always a liquidating Impulse.
Sentiment in producing circles now Is
radically different to that existing
wear ago. Feed lot conditions We're
| then good, roughage abundant anu
everybody optimistic, as to the 1u.uIe'
the result being that cattle were helo
in feed lots. to nurse the market lhsui-
ing the heavy supply OF hn1sned pul-
Iocks that was responsible for sucn
had markets during spring and early
summer months. It is forcible lliustra-
ton of the fact that what happens one
wear at the market is never repeaeeo
/ the following season. -
With partially empty 1eeo lo.s ~
Texas, corn belt feed lots oelhs ne
nleted with feverish haste, the process
being delayed only by car scarcity, aifu
a mid winter movement u -
cattle from the range and mountain
oo,n+rv series of bare cattle markets
ia logical. For weeks past stockers
nave been going to the butcher ana ene
proportion of steers selling below %
has been conspicuous. This means
premature marketing and. spells close
at-hand scarcity. Distillery feedlng is
light and the between hay -ano-e rass
neriod of 1910 at the cattle market Is
likely to witness spectacular pyrotech.
nical displays. The visible supply o,
mutton is small and when THIS, coupieo
with impending beef scarcity ana the
shortest crop of hogs the trade mas
\ ever seen, demand considered, becomes
effective, something will happen.
!; Creating a hog shortage was a less
J tedious process than liquidating cattie'
J doubtless more time will be neeoed &c
J restore beef production to normal pro.
J portions than in the case OF PORK. a
crop of pigs can be raised IN a re"
months, but with the west denuoed o,
; breeding cattle, how will corn belt ieeo
lots be replenished? Only those VINO are
, securing the southwest for cattle &c
; move to Oklahoma and Kansas pas
} lures next spring know how scarce tne
cattle Of commerce are.