The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1923-07-27
MONTANA STOCK
SHOWS UP WELL
EXCELLENT RANGE CONDITIONS
IMPROVE CATTLE AND
SHEEP PROSPECT.
Cattle Rated at 80 per cent of Nor
NAL; Calf and Lamb Crop Exceeds
Those of Last Year; Feed and Wa
ter Abounds.

ter AbOunds.
Excellent conditions of ranges, cat
tie, sheep and lambs, somewhat bet
ter crops of calves and lambs than
last year, an excellent wool clip, and
prospects for about the average mar
ketings of cattle this fall, are shown
in the livestock report released today
by the Montana cooperative crop and
livestock reporting service. Ranges
are SO per cent of normal, a gain of
10 points during June. Good rain
in all sections has stimulated grass
growth, and several areas report the
best grass in years. Hopper damage
in the northern part, and to a less
extent in some other localities, and a
dry period during the first half of
June in the eastern and southeastern
parts, have reduced the average con-
ditions to below normal.
Cattle are rated at SO per cent of a
normal condition, compared to SO a
month ago. Good grass and abundant
water have accounted for marked i'm
provement Losses among cattle for
the last six months have been very
light, averaging per cent for the
state.
The crop saved up to July is es-
timated to be SO per cent of the total
number of breeding cows on hand
last January 1, which makes about
$4,000 calves. This years calf crop
is estimated to exceed slightly that of
1922. The percentage of calves born
varies greatly in the same districts,
due largely to the age and condition
of cows and bulls, methods of hand
ling, etc.
The first forecast as to the proba-
BILE number to be marketed this fall is
$4,000 head. This figure is subject |
to revision next month. Reports from
many stockmen indicate that ship
ments will probably be lighter this
fall than last since last falls move
ment was quite heavy and the supply
of these is short due to the poor calf
crop three years ago; besides, the sup
ply of grass and feed is good so few
will be forced to ship on account of
lack of feed. However, there are sew
eral factors which may tend to in ]
crease shipments considerably above
the forecast. Among these are finin-
cial pressure, general discourage {
ment among cattlemen, the selling of {
more 2-year-olds last fall and this, II
the expressed intention of some to {
market yearlings as baby beef feed j
ers, and the trend of market prices. t
Sheep and lambs are in normal f
or 100 per cent. Lambs t
have been making very good growth. a
Heavy rains and hail have caused lie
serious losses of sheep and lambs in e
a few localities. Losses among sheep f
during the first half of the year have
been very light, averaging 2 per f
cent e
The lamb crop saved up to July / o
has averaged 70 per cent of the num- n
Der of ewes of breeding age, as shown s
by survey of many flocks in all dis C
.ricts of the state. This means that
about 100000 Montana lambs are C
starting out under favorable condi- |,
ions. For the state as whole, the fl
amb crop is some better than it was a
asst year. Sheep growers from the t;
southwest and eastern districts re-
BORT the heaviest increase in lambs,
while smaller crops are frequent in
he northern central and southern 4
raj portions. III
The states wool clip is estimated
% be larger than last year. based up
IN an average weight per fleece of
"a pounds and more sheep being
clipped. The average weight per
leece for the last 10 years has been
80 pounds. The wool is of better
quality this year than last FREQUENT |
aims have delayed shearing, and
many sheep still carried their fleeces
Until after July 1. Very few wool II
ales were made in the state during
rune. 1t is estimated that no more
han 20 per cent of the total clip had
,een sold up to date. Consignments 1 |
during the latter part of HI
Tune, as growers generally believe
hat the fall demand for fine woods
will insure them getting the prices
hey are now asking.
Buyers of feeder lambs have been
ctive in the state. Reported prices
re mostly at nine to 10 cents for
all delivery. While the number of
ambs reported might indicate a iii
anger supply of feeders than usual,
his is quite offset by general in
entions to hold back more eve lambs |
han usual. Very few sheep growers
will be forced to sell under financial
Iressure, or on account of lack of III
.rass and feed.
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