The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1920-03-26
ANNUAL LIVESTOCK
REPORT FOR MONTANA

The annual. livestock report of the
bureau of crop estimates issued by
Fred w. Beier, Montana field agent,
shows a decrease in the number of all
classes of livestock, except mules, COM
pared with one year ago. The actual
decreases as compared with January
/, 1919, are as follows: Horses de-
creased from $4,000 to $4,000; mich
cows, $4,000 to 100000; other cattle,
100000 to 100000; sheep, 2,984,O 900
to 1911 900; swine, 200, 900 to 1OO,-
900. Tie number of mules in the
state is estimated at 5000 head, the
same as last year.
The value per head of all livestock
has shown a downward tendency dur
ing the past year. This decrease in
value follows the general reduction of
price per head for horses, other cat
tie, sheep and swine throughout the
United States and has been supple
mented in Montana by the shortage
of feed on the ranges and short hay
crop which resulted in an unusually
heavy sale and movement of livestock
to markets and outside feeding points.
The actual decrease in value per head
as compared with January 1, 1919,
is as follows: Horses decreased from
$84 to $50, mules 500 to $50, mich
COWS $87 to $83, other cattle $58 to
$50, sheep $11.sO to 5000, swine
S22 to 1922.
A review of the livestock situation
shows that 1919 has been very dis
couraging to the livestock industry;
the unusual drouth brought about a
serious feed situation on ranges and
a resulting short hay crop, which nee
e~ssitated heavy shipments of hay,
grain and concentrates from outside
points. The high prices and short
ages of feed caused a heavy sale of all
classes of stock to be shipped to mar
ket and a heavy movement to outside
ranges and feeding grounds. The sus-
tanned cold period, accompanied by
snow during the last week in Novem-
Der and first two weeks of December
which was the most prolonged spell of
cold weather since the establishment
of the weather bureau records, nee
essitated early feeding of the limited
supply of feed due to the covering
of the range with snow. The stock on
the open ranges suffered consider
ably and a heavy mortality resulted in
some parts of the state.
The livestock industry in Montana
is undergoing a great change neces-
STATED by the reduction of the open
ranges which are now being farmed.
The larger herds of cattle and sheep
are growing less each year and there
is a noticeable increase in the number
of cattle and sheep on each farm. The
past three years have brought about
a decided tendency toward diversi-
fled farming and a corresponding in
crease of dairy cows and sheep is
shown on the farms in some sections
of the state. The possibilities of the
dairy industry in this state are being
realized, while the actual number of
mich cows shows a decrease there
is a tendency toward better dairy
COWS.
With the advent of more favorable
feed years the livestock outlook IN
Montana is a most favorable one. The
majority of the farmers T anxious
to increase the number of livestock
on their farms. The heavy shipments
to markets the past three years have
resulted in a survival of the better
grades and there will be a great i'm
provement of the grades of livestock
in Montana. 1t seems that during
1920 there will be heavy shipments OF
livestock into Montana to replace
those shipped to market and other
states to feed. The buyers will have
a tendency toward good grades and
it is believed that the bad results of
last year will be more than overcome
by better livestock.