The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1912-03-08
LIVE STOCK FIELD
FOR IDAHO
By F. ]. IDD1Ncs.

AMERICA AS AN EXPORTER OF MEAT
America is fast losing her position
among the people of the world as an
extensive meat producer Ten years
ago we exported 10000 head of live
stock to supply meat for other people
Last year our exports fell to $4,000
head At that rate of decrease, in less
than another decade, we will be i'm
porting more animals than we export
to others.
OUR NATURALLY FAVORABLE CON-
DITIONS.
We have left as yet great areas of
grazing lands, some of the best Of
which are under national control in
the forest reserves. Other great areas
in the older farming belts are rapidly
i decreasing in fertility, due to con
tinued crop production without live
stock in connection. High priced lands
in the river valleys and in irrigated
belts can be made to carry much more
| liye stock than at present.
Idaho is pre-eminently live stock
state, but as yet future possibilities can
only be conjectured Good grazing
lands, including some of the most waltz
able forest reserves of America are
found within the confines of the state.
Though widely differing in soil, eli
matte and other natural conditions
nearly every part of the state will pro-
duce great quantities of forage and
large yields of high quality grains. The
average altitude is regarded as neither
high nor low Rainfall is sufficient SO
that where irrigating waters are not
available dry farming can be practlced
advantageously. Water supplies are
pure and all climatic factors tend to
develop thrift and vigor in animals.
In spite of these naturally favoring
conditions live stock of all kinds is
carried on the average farm in small
numbers. The alfalfa of the southern
part of the state should be fed in the
district where produced instead Of be-
ing marketed at fraction of it's real
value and sent to build up lands in
other parts of or outside the state The
grains grown in such abundance in
every section should be marketed in
the form of beef, pork, mutton, milk,
or horse flesh. By-products and
wastes of the field, orchard and dairy
should be used for animal feeds. Con-
certed action along these lines can do
wonders in building up greater ami
NAL industry in Idaho
DRAFT HORSES.
Of all the horses sent to the Chicago
market last year only one in twenty
was large enough and sound enough
to meet the requirements of the high
est draft classes and grades. The great :
problem in breeding draft horses is to
secure sufficient size and at the same
time soundness of wind, legs and
feet. With our dry soils, medium alti- !.
tude, pure air, superior water supply
and heterogeneous or muscle and bone
building feeds we are in a position to
breed such horses as are required in
the most exacting markets. The native
mares are especially dense of bone and
have feet of wonderful wearing quail
ity In some districts infusion of
draft blood has given such size to this
native female stock that foundation
blood is at hand for producing horses
IF drafty conformation Recent intro
1uction of suitable stations means
much for draft horse breeding.
BEEF CATTLE.
Our population has increased Fl per
cent in the last decade and the number
If our beef cattle has decreased 7 per
,ent in the same period. An unpre- 4
,edented slaughter of calves is making
more certain decided beef shortage.
We have feeds sufficient to grow large
numbers of beef cattle and those who
moose to work along this line cannot
lelp but be well repaid for their in
yestment and labor The University of
IDAHO feels the Importance of this
'hase of our animal industry and has
ecently put in small but excellent
lerds of Hereford and Short Horn
attic These cattle will be used for
work and for demon
trating the beef type to visiting stock
nen and to students of both the four
ear and the short courses.
DAIRY CATTLE.
Possibilities for profitable produc-
ion of milk and butter are found in
very part of the state Production is
ow far short of consumption and
rices for butter fat are very satisfac
Try. To encourage extension Of dairy.