The Ronan pioneer., 1917-02-23
TWO! YEARS. STOCK
GAIN 43 PER CENT
MONTANA'S LIVESTOCK vavI,r
JUMPS FROM $94, $685.
TO $135,711,OOO

TAoDS lsOOV
Between 1914 and 1916 Number o1
Mich Cows Increases From 1O4.
600 to 148,OOO, With 9s3. 600 9th
er Cattle; Horses in State Gain
10000 in Same Period.
lhat the livestock industry OF
Montana is keeping pace with the
growth of other industries in this
state, said Charles D. Greenfield
commissioner of agriculture and pub
llclty' is shown by some statistics
| recently issued by the bureau of crop
estimates of the agricultural depart
ment at Washington. The figures
gwen cover the years from 1914 to
1916 inclusive and they show that in
the time mentioned the aggregate
value of horses, milch COWS, other
cattle' sheep, swine and mules has
increased from s94,SOS,0OO at the
beginning of 1914 to $135, ,711,O0O at
the end of 1916. During the period
mentioned there has been a decrease
IN the aggregate number of head of
the animals named, of over 100000,
and this decrease in numbers and in
crease in valuation accounts for the
Increased price of roasts, steaks,
hams and bacon and other meat pro-
ducts, as we'll as of milk and cream. y
In detail the figures are interest
ing. In spite of the fact that the
range lands have been taken up by
farmers to a large extent, and not
withstanding there have been many
statements in the past five years
that the livestock industry in Mon
tana was growing less and less, the
compilations made by the govern
ment experts show that there has
been an increase in the number of
animals mentioned, in the three year
period, with the sole exception of
sheep
Decrease in Sheep.
"On January 1, 1914, Montana
was credited with having 4,293.00O
head of sheep, and on the first of this
year with 3,744,OOO, a decrease of
$4,000. Almost half of this loss
was in 1916, the decrease last year
being 100000.
In 1914, Montana was credited
with 104, 900 milch COWS, and on the
first of January this year with 49,
900, an increase of $4,000. In 1916
the increase in these animals is esti-
mated by the bureau at 10000
"In view Of the figures furnished
by the government, the fear that
Montana would not continue to pro-
duce beef animals is shown not to
be we'll founded. In 1914 there were,
according to the bureau 753. coo cat
tie in Montana apart from milch
COWS. At the close OF 1916 this
number had increased to $4,000. In
1916 the increase over 1915 was S9,-
600.
while the government does not
in it's statistics say anything about
the better quality, there is no ques-
ton but that in this state the grade
of the cattle has improved in the
past three years in proportion with
the number.
Big Increase in Horses.
'In 1914 Montana was credited
with $4,000 horses. Since then
this state has furnished many thou
sand head for the European armies,
yet, despite that fact, on the first Of
this year it is estimated by the bu
reau that Montana had $4,000
horses, an increase of $4,000 head.
In 1916 the number increased over
that credited to the state at the end
of 1915 by $4,000, the total at the
of this year being $4,000.
"While in the three years from
1914 to 1917 the number of swine
increased from $4,000 in the first
year named to 100000 on the first
of January, 1917, there was de-
crease in 1916 compared with 1915.
At the beginning of 1916 Montana
had 298,O0O head of swine, and the
first of this year 100000.
How Values Have Grown.
"The increase in the value of the
livestock in Montana is even more
than the increase in
numbers. For instance, the value of
the horses in the three years has in
creased from $37,944, 900 to $41,-
584 900; of milch COWS from ST.
$4,000 to $11, 1,O92,O00; of other
cattle from $34,939, 900 to s52,197,-
600; of swine from $2.19O,000 to
$3,22S,OOO. Though the number of
sheep has declined in the three years
549 1000 head, the value in that peri
I'd has increased from $15,SS4,O 900
to $26,582,O00 at the beginning OF
1917.
"Whether due to the climate or to
he natural antipathy of the majority
If people to mules, the number
If those animals in Montana in 1917
S no greater than in 1914, the bu-
eau placing it at 1000. Their val
1e in 1914 was given at $42S,000
md this year it is estimated at $4,
700 higher"