Ripley County democrat. (Doniphan, Mo.) 1905-1920, 1913-10-03
Missouri Cattle Production Drops

Jefferson City.-The contention OF
the members Of the American Paex.
ers association that there has been a
heavy decrease in recent years In the
number of cattle and hogs produced Is
true, SO far as Missouri is concerned,
II the slump in the production OF
cattle and hogs is proportionateiy ss
heavy in other meat.producing states
the nthe shortage will run into nil
lions OF each.
The farmers and stock growers OF
Missouri had on hand when the as
SCISSORS made their rounds in 1890
total Of 1924 ,32S cattle Of assessatle
age. When the assessments were
made in 1913 only 17O2,753 were emu
merated, a loss Of 92l,575. During the
same period the number OF hogs
dropped from 2,64G,575 to 2,03G,33S, a
slump Of 5S2,237,
During this period Of % years the
population Of Missouri increased APP
proximately 100000. The increase as
shown by the government census be-
tween 1880. when The population was
2G79,1 and 1910, when the popula-
ton was 3,293335, was Giil5l. Upon
this ratio the increase in population
, TO 1913 is approximately 100000.
The figures upon the number OF
hcgs and cattle in Missouri are not
estimates, but are the actual enumera-
tions made by the county assessors
during the farm-to-farm canvass Ia
making assessments.
The decline in the number of hogs
and cattle produced In Missouri, as
shown by the assessors reports, as
compiled by the state auditor for the
state board of equalization, has been
gradual since 1890, when the highest
number of cattle and hogs was pro
/ duccd.
Several reasons have been ad-
vunced by stoCkmen for the decreased
production of cattle and hogs. Among
them are: The enactment of stock
laws preventing the pasturage OF un-
fenced lands, the prevailing low prices
during TIE heavy business depression
of the last Cleveland administration,
the killlhg of young calves further de-
creased ,hc number OF beef cattle
The slump in the number OF cattle
produced in Missouri was heaviest be-
tween 1880 and 1900. During this pc
rod OF ten years the cattle dropped
Z % a n
=, 5gE423. During the same period the
decrease in the number Of hogs raised
was 2s0.026 In 1890 the assessors
found 2,GlG,515 hogs aud in 1900
2.396,4ig
Between 1900 and 1910 the number
OF cattle Increased from 202G,9O5 to
9lO39,S5G This represented an in
crease Of 1852. But between 1910
and 1913 cattle slumped from sOS9-
| $50 to l,7O2 ,7j3, a decline Of 1871
head
The assessors enumerated total
Of 2,&96,449 hogs in 1900 In 1910 they
found upon the farms but 2,269,785, a
decrease of 1864 head The assess
ment ~ 1915 showed but g,OG3,93S, q
! further slump Of 20G, ,l47.
The assessors figures indicate a
heavy slump, both In the production
Of cattle and of hogs, between 1910
pnd 1913, Notwithstanding the prices
} OF both were high. This may have
been due, farmers say. to the sacrifice
OF stock following the drought OF
1911. The slump was not attributed
to the drought OF this year, which was
not sufficiently advanced to cause
much apprehension when the assess
ors made their rounds In May and
June. Up to that time no stock had
been sacrificed The following table
will give the number of cattle and
hogs enumerated in Missouri by tho
/ n,spssars nt intervals since 1890,