Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-12-28

In its weekly agricultural review,
prepared for its ~broadcasting through
it's radio service, the Montana Farm
err Wednesday stated that the year
1922 has been d good year for most
livestock producers, when measured
by the margin Of selling price over
feed costs. While in many cases the
feed itself was produced at a loss.
conversion into livestock and live
stock products was generally profita-
Bile. the review stated. The Montana
Farmers service is broadcast through
The Tribune's station X D Y $.
After the first two months Of
1922" said the review, most of the
fed cattle marketed made money, as
feeders had been put in at low cost.
The trend of prices was steadily up
ward from month to month until De-
tober. when the supply became heavy
enough to cause a moderate down
turn. although choice steers continued
to sell near the seasons high mark
practically up to the end of the year.
Grassers did not fare so well as fed
cattle. The public is becoming partial
to better grades Of beef, western
ranges produced more beef and more
stockers and feeders than generally
eADtSLtu HIu tidlloBCl tAo >O'eS 49,
long hauls ate up a big fraction of
the returns on lower grades.
The final tally for 1922 will proba-
bly, show the heaviest slaughter of
cattle of any year on record with
the exception of 1917, 1918 and 1919,
but c~onsumptive demand has been
keen since last spring, and the beef
has disappeared. Less than half as
much frozen beef as usual was accl-
mulated in storage during the range
season.
Large Cattle Shipments
Profits stimulate production so that
the increase of u per cent over last
year in the number of cattle On feed
in the IL corr belt states as shown
by reports to the department Of agri-
Shipments Of stocker and feeder cat
tie from 81 cents in the four months,
August 1 to December /. were the
largest on record. Many of these
cattle are already trooping back to
market after a brief acquaintance
with corn. In spite of the large sup
ply they have been absorbed without
satisfying the appetite for beef and
the market is performing well at the
close Of the year.
Extremely light feeding operations
a year ago resulted in a light supply
of lambs last winter, and prices rela-
Feeders reaped almost fabulous prof
it's. The usual sag occurred during
the summer when the native crop of
spring lambs put in its appearance,
but the break was not extreme. Re
ceipts were much below normal for
the corresponding period during the
range season. With feeders clearing
the decks of thin lambs during the
fall at good prices the market adj
vanced again and is rounding into the
fed lamb season in good shape. Thin
lambs cost about twice as much as
last year and feed costs are higher so
that profits will be much smaller and
some operators may lose. Total
slaughter at 67 markets during the
first II months of 1922 was nearly 20
per cent lighter than in 1921, and the
smallest since 1918.
More Lambs Being Fed
Estimates made by the department
of agriculture show about 20 per cent
more lambs on feed on December l
than last year. The corn belt has 10
per cent more and the western irrigat-
ed lamb feeding sections about % per
cent more. Colorado has the most
since 1914. From August / to De
cember !. total shipments of feeder
lambs and sheep from 67 public mar
kets were 2.76S,O00 head compared
with 2,201, 900 head last year, and a
six-year average of 1901 900 head.
The most serious angle is the fact
that many heavy lambs were taken
out so that too many may be crowded
on the market early in the winter.
With the exception of a short period
in late winter the trend of wool prices
during the year has been upward. The
gain amounts TO about 40 per cent.
Wool consumption by American mills
was the largest on record with the ex-
ception of one war year. At the close