The twice-a-week Twin Falls times. (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1916-1918, 1917-11-01


increase in numbers in recent years
but this increase is far from commen-
surate with the increase in population.
The same is true of dairy cattle. The
beef cattle supply of America has fall
len from fifty-One million head in 1907
to a little more than forty million in
1915, a decrease of one fifth in eight
years. While the American farm and
range flocks of sheep have increased
from twenty-five million head in 1850
to fifty-one million head in 1910, this
number has fallen to forty-eight mil
lion for 1917. The per capita supply
of sheep, with a comparatively increas-
ing demand for and popularity of NUT
ton, has fallen from SO head per CAPT
ia in 1850 to less than One-half sheep
per capita today.
The census figures and the stats
teal experts have not been able to
keep pace with sensational changes in
the swine industry. in portions OF
idaho and other sections of the north
west, there is only now and then few
pigs where there were large herds
three years ago The bureau of stats
tics estimates a loss of sixty per cent
of our swine during the past year.
One large irrigation district in Idaho
has but one-third of the swine today
as compared with year ago. ThOus-
ands of men have quit the business
entirely due, in a large part, to the
reasons cited above. Reports from the
great swine producing centers of the
corn belt indicate similar movement
but one less radical in it's extent and
influence on the industry as a whole.
The manager of a large western pack
ing house stated publicly a few days
ago that the hog killing department
of his plant was running at ten per
cent capacity only.
All of this indicates a livestock
problem Of serious proportion, espec-
n in fl1a anf
sarily spell disaster but certainly does
mean serious concern.
Coupled with the American situation
is the livestock status of Continental
Europe and Great Britain. Any one
at all familiar with events on the con-
tinent must know that the livestock
herds are fast disappearing. First,
because of waStage of horses and the
usage of cattle, sheep and swine, and
second, because of shortage of fodder
necessitates the use of livestock as an
alternative to their starvation and re-
sulting total loss as a resource to the
nations at war. One livestock man of
experience and high standing asserts
that the decrease of livestock in Eur
ope is as follows: Sheep, fifty-four
Million cattle, thirty-eight million;
and swine thirty-two million. In 9TH
er words, to supply the European void
would take, approximately speaking,
| two-thirds of the swine and practic-
ally all the beef cattle and sheep of
| America
1t is our purpose not to dwell at
length on the problem and it's serious
aspect but to first show that the prob
| lem is with us and is serious and then
to suggest means and ways of inn
provement. The first has been COM
paratively easy. The latter duty is
now in hand.
Suggestions for Holding and Handling
/ The Herds
The first duty in a constructive way
is to recall to those who are fast go
ing to a cash crop basis, that this has
not been, is not now, and can never
of agriculture for Idaho and contig-
uOus states. Idaho can no more dc
without her herds and flocks than the
northern part of the state exist
without snowfall and rain or its
southern valleys and plains without
the streams of irrigating water thai
make fresh and productive the other
wise arid and useless land. Not only
: is livestock farming necessary to per
! manent fertility and long continued
success in agriculture as a genera
l proposition, but examples are found
in many parts of our state where the
2 biggest crops, the greatest success
and the largest profits are associated
? with the wide use of livestock herd:
including the sale of farm product:
2 in many cases entirely in animal form
There will come a day soon, there
l fore, when the only alternative to re
= duce yields will be either livestocl
keeping or artificial fertilization. Fur
2 thermOre, there will come a time. fal
2 sooner than many imagine, when those
: few sections of Idaho that are fas
5 getting rid of livestock and are sell
A ing hay at record prices, will fine
that the hay market depends almOs
entirely upon livestock breeding anC
recall a period of five to six year
? a means of marketing hay.
1t is only a policy of good judg
: ment, therefore, to retain as much o
5 our foundation herds as possible Fur
thermore one who has watched tn
= fluctuation of livestock prices mus
t know that those who pass through thi
period and are able to come into thu
Z spring and summer with productive
J herds in all probability will be re
$ warded financially. 1t is only nat
e ural that following this period of higl
4 feed prices and disposal of livestock
r Will come an era of lower feed price
e and highly remunerative prices 70
farm animals
2 There must be sold this year, as il
= former years, certain surplus from
n our flocks and herds. In choosing thi
n livestock for sale there should be al
I effort to retain in the herd uniforml
o thrifty animals of excellent individu
q atty. There are many who, due to tn
d feed situation, may need to dispose o
:. more than usual quota Here agail
S the elimination should he such tina