The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1920-07-23

Montana has a livestock popula-
ton of 3,577,158 head, according to
the report of the Butte chamber of
commerce. The report is based on
the statistics of the state tax and
license commission. The livestock
statistics embrace horses, mules, cat
tie, sheep and hogs and do not in
c1ude goats, of which there are a
goodly number of the thoroughbred
variety, Angoras and Nubian milch,
as we'll as the common, or ''livery
stable' goat.
There are 1,097,288 cattle distrib-
uted among the 43 counties of the
state. The bulk of these are stock
cattle, their number being 589,845-
Stock cattle are to be found in all
counties except Fergus. The largest
number is found in Custer county,
69,801, and the smallest number in
Mineral county, % head. While Fer
gus is lacking in stock cattle, the
county makes a fine showing in other
varieties.
This is enough to supply every
family in the state with five head,
without encroaching on the dairy cat
tie, the thoroughbreds or the graded
stock, and leaving nearly 100000 to
repopu1ate the ranges. This estimate
is based on the last census report.
Montana Production
OF sheep, Montana can boast of
grand total of 1,891,095, an excess
over the cattle of nearly 100000
head, while the hog industry, which
is yet in its infancy by reason of the
fact that Montana has heretofore not
gone in heavily for corn, although
there are number of fine corn val
leys, according to the experts, makes
a respectable showing of 59,718
head.
Montana produced 12,826,480 tons
of hay and grain which represents
about four tons per head of livestock.
The grazing acreage is placed at
17,941,930 acres, or about five acres
per head of cattle, sheep and horses.
The grazing acreage cuts down the
need for harvested forage and Mon
tana must seek a market in other
states.
Stockyards as Market
Were a union stockyards located
In Butte, 1t is said, Montana would
have a market for her hay right at
home. Horseflesh has become a
staple article Of diet in some coun-
tries in Europe and among some of
our foreign born in this country.
Montana has nearly 100000 range
horses. These are the preferred kind
Tor butchering purposes. With a
union stockyards and a horse divi-
sion, with a packing plant devoted to
handling horse meat, a valuable in
1ustry might be built up.
Hnrcohido ic q hiOb1U-va1npd ma
erial for shoes, covering, horse col
airs, and for baseballs, the preferred
part of the hide for shoe purposes be-
ng the covering of the headquarters,
where the whip falls oftenest." The
central layer (the skin is several
,lys in thickness) is used in the man
fracture of "cordova" shoes. With a
orse-butchering plant would come a
aiming plant and possibly a shoe
manufacturing plant for one of the
'est grades of foot leather.
Sheep Population
The sheep population is divided
nto 20,885 rams, 71,079 lambs and
,799,130 ewes and wethers. Several
thousand of these are butchered each !
Month locally in one Butte packing
liant, operating without stockyards.
v
. is assumed that the major part of
ne mutton supplied the nation by j
Iontana would be butchered locally
nd shipped from this state in refrig-
rators, instead of on the hoof. In
1is connection, it might be stated
lat the banner sheep county, Beaver
cad, is right at the threshold of
ute. Beaverhead is credited with
03,903 head of sheep. Madison, the
djoining county on the east, has I
1874 and Powell 1887. Other {
,unties in close proximity to Butte e
$50 rank high in sheep. r
AS a matter of minor Importance, +
might be stated that Montana t
oasts of Is Shetland ponies, the t
'rmer property of dog and pony f
low whose Montana hacker, at the o
ssolution of the partnership, pur- L
lased the little herd and brought c
lem to this state. The influence of +
le Hamilton ranch OF Marcus DAILY, c
here fine horses were bred, is il
lown in the fact that there are 1864
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