The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1923-01-30
COUNTRY CONTAINS
LESS LIVESTOCK
DECREASE IN THREE YEARS
2.O0O,000 HEAD-AMERICANS ARE
EATING LESS MEAT.

Washington-Although there are
actually fewer beef cattle in the
United States at present than there
have been in previous years, it is
now possible to raise more beef each
year than when there were more
cattle. This somewhat contradictory
statement is explained by the United
States department of agriculture
which shows that larger proportion
of beef COWS are kept on ranches and
farms, and beef cattle are slaughtered
at an earlier age than used to be the
practice.
In a discussion of the American
cattle industry during the last rs
years the year book of the depart
ment for 1921, which has just been
published, described the growth and
changes of practice in the business.
The system of using younger cattle
for beef purposes involves the use OF
more harvested feed per 100 pounds
of beef produced, since a large pro-
portion of the grains in weight are
made in the feed lot than was for
merly the case when steers were car
ried four or five seasons on grass.
While the total number of cattle In
the country has decreased in recent
years, the article states, the situa-
ton is not as serious as might ap-
pear since the number of cattle is
greater now than in any year from
1896 to 1917. Census figures for 1900
and 1920 show there has been an in
crease in the percentages of beef
calves, heifers, cows and bulls, and
a decrease in the percentage Of
steers, especially aged steers. The
number of cattle in the country in
creased 10,200,000 from 1914 to 1919,
but during the last three years there
has been a decrease of 100000 head.
the greater proportion of
COWS at present makes it possible to
grow more beef, especially if more
of the calves, instead of being
are fed out as yearlings.
THAT the country can readily re-
spond to a quickened demand for beef,
was demonstrated during the war
when production was so stimulated
that during 1917 and 1918 combined
more than one million pounds of beef
we're exported, which was seven per
cent of our production and % per
cent of the exports of the world dur
ing the period" the year book de-
clares. Since about 1905 South
America and Australia have been the
chief sources of surplus beef"
America Eats Less Beef.
Americans are eating less beef per
capita than formerly, it is stated.
rhe consumption of beef and veal in
he United States decreased from 81
per person in 1907 to go
in 1916. Between the periods
If 1907 to 1910 and 1911 to 1921 there
las been a decrease in consumption
amounting to approximately 20 per
cent.
The article includes interesting in
ormation to those engaged in the in
lustry, on the variations in demand
or different kinds of beef in various
titles and in changing seasons. High
lass hotels, it is noted, want prime,
at and finished beef, while the aver
.ge housewife wants beef involving
ess waste. In warm weather the
demand is for steaks and
hops, while the winter trade demands
more roasts and boiling meat. The
orthodox Jewish trade uses only the
orequarters, while Gentiles, as rule,
,refer hindquarters of beef
The survey of the beef cattle situa-
ion, leads to the conclusion, accord
ng to the department experts, that
he period of liquidation is over, and
hat when industrial conditions and
etail prices permit a normal con-
of beef, cattle producers
hould be prosperous again.