The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-01-20
BEEF SUPPLY
ON
TI0N'SFARMS

Washington, ID. c., Jan. 90. --- AL
dough there nre actually fewer beef
lttlc in the United States at pres
Mt time than there have been in
revious years. it is now possible to
aise more beef e;<h year than
hen there we've more cattle. This
omca.lat contradictory statement is
explained by the United States De-
partment Of Agriculture which shows
hat larger proportion of beef
ows are kept on ranches and farms,
nd beef cattle are slaughtered at
n earlier age than used to be the
practice.
In discussion of the American
attle industry during the last 70
ears, the yearbook Of the depart
nent for 1921, which has just been
published, described the growth and
hanges of practice in the business.
The system of using younger cattle
or beef purposes, the yearbook ex-
plains, involves the use of more
harvested feed per- 100 pounds of
Ieef produced, since large proper
ion Of the gains in weight are made
n the feed lot than was formerly
| he case when steers were carried
our or five seasons on grass.
While the total number Of cattle
n the country has decreased in re-
ent years, the article states, the
ituation is not as serious as might
| ppear, since the number of cattle
greater now than in any year
rom 1896 to 1917. Census figures for
800 and 1920 show there has been
u increase in the percentages of
eef calves, heifers, cows and bulls,
| I'd decrease in the percentage of
teers, especially aged steers. The
|umber of cattle in the country in
feased 100000 from 1914 to 1919,
ut during the last three years
here has been a decrease Of 2,000,-
| 80 head. However, the greater pro-
ortion of cows at present. makes it
possible to grow more beef, especial
if more of the calves, instead Of
BONG slaughtered, are fed as yearl-
|nrs.
That the country can readily re-
pond to quickened demand for
beef, was demonstrated during the
var when production was so stimu-
|ated that during 1917 and 1918 COM
|tined more than one billion pounds
/ f beef were exported, which was
percent Of our production and %
percent Of the exports Of the world
|lucing the period" the Yearbook de-
,lares. "Slnce about 1905 South Am
rica and Autralia have been the
.hief surces of surplus beef"
Americans are eating less beef per
.apita than formerly, it is stated.
|Lhe consumption of beef and veal
|u the United States decreased from
F. pounds per person in 1907 to GO
bounds in 1916. Between the periods
II 1907 to 1910 and 1911 to 1921
there has been a decrease in con-
sumption amounting to approximate
IS 20 percent.
The article includes interesting in
formation to those engaged in the
industry, on the variations in de-
luand for different kinds of beef in
rarious cites and in changing sea-
sons. High class hotels, it is noted,
want prime, fat and finished beef,
while the average housewife wants
beef involving less waste. In warm
weather the principal demand is for
steaks and chops, while the winter
Irade demands more roasts and boil
ing meat. The orthodox Jewish trade
uses only the forequarters, while
Gentiles, as rule, prefer hindquar-
ters Of beef.
A survey made in 1920 showed at
hat time nearly SO percent of the
beef produced was consumed in the
North Atlantic states. The next larg-
,st amount or "a percent, was con-
'umed in the east-north-cen di-
'ision. In other words, more than IS
of the total consumption of
'eef and veal occurred in the terri
DRY east of the Mississippi and
forth of the Ohio River and Mary
and. The smallest consumption oc-
urred in the South Atlantic divi-
ion.
The survey Of the beef-cattle sit
alton, leads to the conclusion, ac-
ording to the department experts,
hat the period of liquidation is ov-
r, and that when industrial condi-
ions and retail prices permit a nor
lal consumption of beef, cattle pro-
ucers should be prosperous again.