The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1921-01-27
THE OREGON LIVE
STOCK SITUATION

bAOCAN iNAApN
The live stock industry Is passing
through the long looked for read
justment period that everyone at all
familiar with the industry knew
must take place before the business
would get back on a firm foundation
The surprising thing has been that
things are as good as they are. No
great amount Of forced liquidation
has taken place The Presidential
election. which always brings about
business stagnation. has passed and
soon a new Congress and new
President will be asked to pass what
appears TO he much needed legisla-
tion for the industry. Already It Is
reported that there is a letting up I'm
the buying. of certain foreign wools
for import, the would be purchaser.
fearing that he may get caught with
his import product I'm the protection
barbs of the new tariff fence that
this special session Of Congress may
establish. Feed Is plentiful and
must remain cheap. In order to
market the enormous hay crop OF
nearly every section OF Oregon, much
winter feeding must be rosorted to
and a brisk home market for much
OF our feeding stuff ought to he in
evidence.
The desert section OF Oregon,
which has formerly been used as a
winter range for many OF our inter-
ior shepherds, but which owing to
the high price Of sheeL during the
war period. was not used because OF
certain winter hazards, Is now be-
ing thrown into use for the cheap
carrying over of many OF our range
flocks. The early fall rains have in
sured a rank growth of all desert
grasses and n spring lamb crop far
above the average ought TO result
from this years carry over OF all
range breeding ewes. Tho spring
market, which hass sbeen exceedingly
poor for the past year should he ma
terially helped by purchasers from
Montana. Wyoming and the Rocky
Mountain States that have expe"lonc-
cd heavy winter loses during last
year and lamb crop OF but fifty
per cent OF the normal.
Cattle seem TO have reached the
bottom and a slight climb In price
might we'll be looked for. Were II
not for our abundant hay crop the
feeder and ycarllnR end would be
source of some little concern, but as
the feed situation is entirely satis-
factory and much outside range A.
everywhere reported these unsold
animals may well be put 20 the pro-
fitable task OF garnerlng n feed crop
that might otherwise go ungatherod
- La nla IL
profits are made from the range run
ming OF cattle rather than from the
feed lot This year might show n
much better spring balance than Is
now looked for. The Oregon cattle |
tho quality OF his animals by the !
bringing In and use of pure blooded |
bulls on tho range and with good |
feed. n high and desirable type of |
animal will be offered the range |
states feeders and shippers.
Horses are steadily becoming moro !
I'm demand. Decreased feed costs
and stationary or increased gasoline
costs, Is swinging the pendulum back
In favor OF the horse. AZ present
figuring, barley at 90 c, oats at G0c
hay at $4,000 per ton and pasture at
$500 per acre for the years pas
ture run rent OF 10 days, We find
that 25.3 bushels OF rolled barley
37.S bushels OF oats. Ia tons OF hay
will keep an average Oregon horse
working under average oregon farm
conditions for a year. the aggregate
cost OF this feed Is sil7.35 per year;
from this should be subtractod
$50 90 value OF the manure. leaving
an expense OF but S7S,35 for the
years feeding. These figures show
really how cheaply a draft horse may
be maintained under farm condi-
tlons; fancy attempting TO compete |
with auto motive or tractor power
with this bin OF expenses Good !
draft mares should all be bred IN
the spring and range mares of fair
type and reasonable hone and size
will be In increasing demand, Live
stock growers have a right TO be OPP !
timistic about the future OF the in |
dustry. 1921 ought TO be an average !
year, II will call for the practice I
OF thrift and good feeding and bet
ter farm and range care OF our an
imals.