Imperial Valley press., 1913-09-17

Of horses, and it should be one of the
greatest stud-farm localities in the
world.
Last year our importations for
breeding stock amounted to over ST.
100000, which should have gone 10
California breeders had they such
stock to SELL
The fact that the average valuation
of California horses was placed at
lower figure for 1912 than for 1911
indicates that well-bred drafters and
not smaller horses should receive the
farmers future consideration.
Having always been one of the
greatest range cattle states in the
country one might suppose that future
development along beef cattle lines
was most unlikely Quite the contrary
is true, however, for our state and
worldwide meat shortage facing US,
the cattle situation is becoming Of
prime importance.
Heretofore our beef supply has been
comparatively simple, as we have had
large area Of range land which sup
piled large quantities of cheap feed
but these ranges have been yearly cut
down as the land became more val
liable, and at the present time our i'm
ports are growing larger and our ex-
ports smaller, indicating that the
states demand will soon overtake the
supply There are two factors which
should have a controlling influence OF
this problem; they are better bred
stock and alfalfa. and these in con
nection with proficient management
should discourage any fear of beef
shortage in California, and at The
same time add millions to the states
wealth.
We already have large areas of al
falfa, but there are thousands of acres
still to be put .Inder cultivation and
irrigation which will furnish cheaper
feed than any other state now has.
At the present time better bred
stock is the most Startling need, and
though the kind of stock is increasing
yearly, much Of our range cattle need
a great deal Of Improvement in this
respect.
With more settlers to raise alfalfa
and with bettec bred cattle to con
sumo it, our state should be leade.
in beef production. and the prospects
are most promising for that condition
at the present time
| The sheep branch Of the ivestocb
industry has, ike beef cattle, beer
dependent to 2 large extent upon
range condition 1t is due to this
fact that sheep-raising is undergoing
marked change in methods, the
growth Of which is hard to foretel
Heretofore TIE industry has been car
ried on almost exclusively in districts
where cheap valley lands afforded
winter feed and The higher mountain
summer feeding
1 Through the rise in value of the
lower lands and the cutting up Of
mountain ranges. sheep raising from
now on will be carried on more eX-
tensively in alfalfa and grain-grow
! ing sections.
Although our WOOL production last
year was smaller than it has been
since 1868, the total number of sheep
in the state is aearly as high now as
at any time since 1896, and the av-
erage valuation il higher now than
ever before.
This shows th4- the production will
not decrease with the states develop
ment, for with higher mutton prices
and satisfactory wool quotation, it
will be possible for sheep-raising 10
be profitable for the small farmer, as
has not heretofore been the case.
The present export demand for
mutton sheep is increasing as well as
our home market, being influenced
largely by the shortage in other
meats. In undergoing this change Of
methods the needs are similar to those
of all other classes of livestock, in
asmuch as better bred sheep are badly
needed at this time.
A good start has already been made
by some Of our sheep breeders to aid
in bettering the quality grown, and
little education along Oregon line :
should be all that is necessary in keep
ing California in front rank as a sheep
state.
The percentage OF pork imported
for consumption is greater than that
of any other farm animal, and this,
in face of our state having large pos
sibilities in this respect, demonstrates
that we need badly the services Of
nur friapI tho -+ool,ya rJ prop,otar