The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1919-08-22

oINCAoll.
Stock men and farmers should con-
slider the future of their business very
carefully before deciding upon the
steps they will take to meet the I'M
usual feed situation this fall and VIM
ter.
No one is wise enough to accurately
foretell the future of the live stock
business. However, men who have
made this industry their life study
and business are planning to continue
in their work with confidence that
the future market and price will give
them satisfactory returns on their la
Dor and investment.
One man expressed himself in this
way: "Once we are by this winter
the going for the stock man is sure
to be good" The immediate prob
lem for the stock men is to prepare
for the winter in such name that
the feed bill will be as small'as pos
sible and so he will come out in the
spring still in the live stock business,
There has been too much talk about
the stockman closing out his business
this fall because of feed shortage. 1t
is easy to get out, very easy, but
(%unless all signs fail in dry weather.
it will be much more difficult and
more expensive getting back into the
business in the next few years than
it will be to stay in at this time, nc
matter what the winters feed bill.
Reducing Herds and FlOcks.
Breeding herds and flocks should
be culled and cut and in most cases
only the good type, strong females Of
breeding age retained. The following
rules will apply to most herds and
flocks in the state.
Keep all the good, young breeding
cows and ewes that can possibly be
wintered in good strong condition.
Sell all dry cows or ewes that will
make beef or mutton.
Sell all old thin, shelly cows or ewes.
Sell all calves and lambs.
Breeders cannot figure on this year
alone. All admit that the financial
accounts of most men in the stock
business will show much hevier entries
on the debit side than on the credit
side of the ledger this year. The only
possible chance to make good the loss
of this year is to keep all the good,
strong breeding females of prime age
that can be wintered at a reasonable
cost. 1t must be realized at this time
that the live stock business is not one
that can be sold out and bought back
without considerable loss. A few tons
of hay may save breeders several
years Of work in rebuilding their herds
and flocks to their present satisfac-
tory sizes and state of productiveness.
The fat dry COWS and heifers are
worth more now than they ever will
be again, and their value as breeders
is questionable so it is only good bus
mess to sell this class of stuff under
present conditions.
Without question the old thin, shell
ly, breeding stock will net their own
ers less money on the market than
the good young cows and ewes but
since most herds and flocks must be
reduced the stuff that will eat the
most hay and that will show the heav-
lest losses during the winter should
be among the first to be weeded out.
Calves and lambs, or all grade stock
that is too young to breed this sum-
mer or fall should go to market or
sell to the feeders in the corn belt.
Experience has proven that it takes
more expensive feeds to satisfactorily
! winter these young animals than it
does the mature stock. Ordinarily
breeders should select a certain per-
centage of each years produce to
replace the old and Improbable fe-
males and also to improve the quail
ity of their breeding herds and flocks,
but feed prices, especially for those
who have to buy, are strong argu-
ment in favor of retaining only pro-
! ductive breeding animals in the herds
and flocks this year.