The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1921-03-31
THE SPRING LIVESTOCK
SITUATION PROMISING

trip through eastern oregon shows
that the winter just ended has been
the most favorable in many years for
live stock. The overhead which was so
ruinous a year ago. has been cut to
practically one-fourth the costs OF the
winter Of 1890 Cheap feed and mild
weather have been in part responsible
for this material reduction has taken
place in labor costs. Ranch employees
have been cut from sS5 a month to
something like $50. Sheep herders are
now working for from $50 to SIS a
month which represents a cut Of forty
per cent. Sheep shearers are asking
~ l-2 cents largely because this price
was established by the Utah Sheep
Shearers Union, who voluntarily cut
from II 1-2 cents to 12 l-2, The grow
ers are talking ten cents and will have
no trouble in filling the jobs at this
price
The heavy fall rains produced lux
uriant growth OF grass and all stock
taken up in the fall were in prime con-
dltion. This was responsible for an
early maturing OF all feed-lot stun.
Practically everything got fat this year,
As a result there has been an early
marketing of panied animals and a
tine growth Of wool and a bumper
lamb, calf and colt crop will be insured.
Stockmen are optimistic. They have
money and have by means Of trading
amongst themselves and in some in
stances giving their help an interest In
the stock been able to squeeze through.
They have been successful in cutting
the overhead. Labor has objected but
little, knowing that this was absolute
ly necessary. peculiar situation is
present in respect to cattle. Feeders
are selling at market points for prac-
tically as much per pound as killers,
the beef industry.
The horse market is improving. There
is considerable demand for stock to
take the place of trucks and tractors
A number of mares will be bred this
spring. Farmers feel the need Of rails
ing sufficient colts to replace the older
horses worn out or sold to avoid de-
probation. Several years ago, horse
raising enabled the central eastern Ore
gon wheat farmers to pull through
sent price for grains and hay bring
horse expense per year below 500.
Small tractors cost at least 5000 (cov-
ering operation, depreciation and re-
pairs) annually hence more than six
head of horses will have to be replaced
in order to pay out under present con-
ditions.
The University of Illinois recently
made tractor and horse survey, 1t
was found that 70 per cent of horse
that the grains used would be approx
imately % 1-2 bushels of barley, 37.S
bushels of oats and 2 tons Of hay and
10 days access to outside pasture. One
ana the l"rn "orN was pu' in'o .niee
aiN'S'o"s i'a',o' WIN Duuo'iu'
TRACTOR "orN' anu No"- '"''o,
"o'N Hpp'oNi''e'eis 80 pe' 0e"' Va
the work on the average farm was in
the horse and doubtful-tractor column.
None ol 'he lVV ia''nels USING u"V'o'
gave increased crop E'eius as an "u-
vantage ior .he 'r"c'or' ono may eon-
ciuue '''"' 'he average arm mus oe
larger IMAM @4V "VIes oeiole Nae'o's
ca" pe successfully suos.'.u'e' to'
horses 'hen oniE lor par' ol tue "orN'
Easter" oregon s'ooN s''"e'S "'e
determined 10 pun 'hrouBh the present
perlou OIL repression h""Ne's s'a'e