Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-07-10

the stockmen realize The ADJUST /
ments that must be made. They
have, in fact been slowly making
adjustments to meet changing con-
ditions, but they are now prepared
to go much further than has here
tofore appeared necessary.
IIandicaps to Business.
An analysis of range conditions
at present, when the situation is
reaching its worst aspect, brings
out in a striking manner the fac
tors that are proving the greatest
handicaps to the business. The
chief factors include: a. Over
stocking the range; (2) Inferior
grade Of stock; go Poorly watered
range; "a Failure to Gull old
breeding stock; (5) Failure, in the
cattle business, to control the age
or the season of breeding
The greatest evil of all those
listed is the overstocked condi-
ton of the range. This condition.
in itself, practically blocks all
progress in the stock business. 1t
is chiefly responsible for a low
percentage of calf and lamb crops;
for stunted development of young
stock; for the heavy dying-off in
dry years and an abnormally low
per cent in increase. This latter
condition practically kills incen-
tive on the part Of the stockman
to assume the expense of restock-
ing with better grade of live
stock.
Stockmen generally admit the
fact that the ranges are overstock-
ed, condition that becomes per-
fectly obvious to all in year like
the present one. In many localities
no remedial action is necessary
i as the natural laws are making the
needed adjustment between num-
bers of stock and available forage.
| If stockmen should follow the old
course during the next few years,
and allow their herds to increase
without restraint, they would
surely ride to another fall" But
with the typically progressive
stockmen, a new attitude is re-
| vealed.
II can make more money from
half the number of good cattle
| than with the number l have been
running" or II intend to cut my
/ outfit to the number that my range
will adequately feed all the time,
are two expressions most frequent
! ly heard from stockmen.
I.::is settled conviction on the
part of stockmen, coupled with the
acknowledged fact that the one
way of bringing the stock industry
out Of the hole is to raise better
stock, and when possible avoid
losses of all kinds should result in
a concerted movement of livestock
producers in the southwest. 1t will
require united effort by the ma
jority to prevent some short-sight-
ed men from profiting by the con-
sentative use of common range.
Overstocking Cuts Prices.
| Overstocked ranges tend to de-
press prices because Of forced
shipments in dry years, and hurt
the local prices by keeping down
the standard of stock raised in a
community. They seriously cripple
the credit Of the industry by fore
ing banks to extend loans beyond
reason as means of avoiding to-
tai ruin to stockmen, thereby pre-
venting conservatively managed
outfits from getting a sound mar
gin of credit.
Stock associations have fire.
quently gone on record in favor of
rules regulating the number and
grade of males that may be per-
mitted on the range and of even
forbidding the grazing of worth
less classes of stock. Surely the
subject of organizing the national
and state owned lands concerns
the interests of stockmen vitality
enough to justify their taking a
united stand for measures that
Twill protect and promote their in
terests. While nothing can be done
ION privately owned lands, regua-
lions can applied on state lands.
lblj domain, Indian reservations
AID national forests, with the CO.
operation of stockmen. which will