Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-07-07
STOCkSINCREASE
IN RANCE STATES
Department OF Agriculture Investiga-
tors Predict Growth of the
Meat Industry.
BUT SAY Ut WILL BE SLOW
Geyed-Some Interesting Facts
Are Gathered.

That hereafter there should be a
slow increase in the output Of beef
and mutton in the range states of the
west but that this increase is likely
TO be accompanied by an increase in
the cost of production, are the chief
conclusions of a report on Live Stock
Production in the Eleven Far Western
Range States" which the federal de-
partment Of agriculture has Just pub
lished. This report is one of the five
sections of the exhaustive report on
the meat situation in the United States,
in the preparation of which the de-
partment specialists have been engag-
ed for some time. It discusses the
reasons for the long decline in meat
production in the west and explains
why there is reason TO believe that
this is now a thing Of the past. In
addition it includes detailed studies of
the present cost of producing steers
and lambs.
Between 1910 and 1914, the year in
which the Investigations on which the
report is based were made. the num-
bers of live stock in the II states of
Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho,
Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Ore
gOn, Utah, Washington and Wyoming
decline the report holds the settle
ment of public lands and the conse-
quent reduction Of the range primar-
lily responsible. A number of other
causes have contributed to the down
ward movement, but it is pointed out
these have been more than offset by
high prices and therefore more prof
liable range animals, and the general
agricultural development which have
F.vy ~ -
more widespread adoption of the prac-
tiCe of winter feeding and winter pas
turing on alfalfa and cultivated crops.
The prediction that this decrease
hereafter will give way to an increase
is based upon the belief that the
amount of live stock on farms and
homesteads will be greater in the flu
ture, that the stock ranges in the ma
tiOnaI forests will continue to i'm
prove, that the carrying capacity of
the stock ranges on the public domain |
may be increased by legal regulation, |
and finally that high prices of range |
animals and better methods will re- |
suit in a more efficient utilization of |
the available forage, or, in other |
words. greater production per unit |
Of forage.
Only Enough for Own Use.
In 1914 it was estimated that no |
more than 80 per cent of the new set |
tiers had more live stock than was |
necessary to supply them with work |
and mich animals. The situation in |
this respect, however, was changing |
even then, and the movement for the |
production of more live stock may be |
expected to continue because both
market and agricultural conditions
make this indispensable to really sue
cessful farming. The change will be |
gradual, it is said, and only a few
head of stock will be added to a farm,
but ultimately and in the aggregate
the increase will be greater than that
which is likely to be accomplished in
any other way. The problem for the
states and the national government
it is said, is to aid in the change by
working out a system which will make
such agriculture profitable.
In addition to this increase in the
numbers of farm stock, there is little
doubt that the carrying capacity of |
the existing ranges can be greatly en-
larged. This has been demonstrated
in the national forests, where improv-
ed methods and regulation have in
creased the capacity of many ranges
from Is TO 80 per cent. This process
should continue for at least 10 years
more and should result in building up
the carrying capacity of the national
forests as a whole by perhaps 10 per
cent.
If similar control could be exercised
over the public domain outside of the