The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1923-11-28
CALF SELLS Higher
Than ITS MOTHER
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
ISSUES REPORT COVERING
IT'S INVESTIGATION

ticeable tendency this fall to market
a larger proportion of cows and
heifers than usual, according to a
survey recently made by the Depart
ment OF Agriculture and received
early in the week in this city from
Don j. Slater, representative of the
department in South st. Paul, MINI.
The increase in the proportion of
female stock marketed up to October
1 ranged from 5 TO 10 per cent as
compared with the corresponding
period a year ago, the department
says. A survey covering 26,737 cat
tie marketed from II range states
during the last two weeks of Sep
TENDER showed Sc per cent we're COWS
and heifers compared with shipments
of 22,588 cattle from the same states
during the corresponding period of
1922 of which 46 per cent were fe-
male stock.
A department report covering sew
eral numbered thousand cattle slaugh-
tered at a great many establishments
throughout the United States shows
that in August, 1928, 1929 per cent
of the cattle slaughtered were fe-
males as compared with 40.16 per
cent in August, 1922. In September
1928, 1852 per cent were females
compared with 1884 per cent for the
corresponding month a year ago.
Trade estimates of receipts at a
number of the leading livestock
markets of the country vary rather
widely with respect to the relative
numbers of COWS and heifers offered.
At a majority of the markets which
handle range stock the estimates In
crease in the proportion of receipts
of females ranges from 3 to 5 per
cent. At Fort Worth, however, it
was estimated that during September
this year IS per cent of the cattle
offered for sale were females COM
pared with approximately so per
cent a year ago. At Denver a record
covering the total number of cattle
slaughtered by a number of the lar
ger establishments during September
showed SO per cent were females as
compared with 70 per cent for Sep
TENDER 1922.
Opinions regarding both the basis
and the significance of this move
ment differ widely. There seems to
be little doubt, the department says,
that at least a part of the increased
marketing of females represents
forced liquidation. In other words,
in some instances loans have been
called and the stockman has been
forced to either sell his entire herd
Or at least to dispose of a part OF
his breeding stock. In other instan-
ces it is in a sense q voluntary action.
the department feels, predicated or
Encouragement Of cattlemen because
of inability to continue in the cattle
business at prevailing market prices
= Other interests take the view that the
present increased movement of cow:
and heifers to market simply repre-
: sents a natural liquidation of a sur
: plus which has been accumultine
since the war; that is to say, stool
which was carried through the liqui
: dation period Of 1920 and 1921 il
the hope that the market would RICH
= itself to the extent that the cow
r might be marketed at a profit o
with as little loss as possible.
In certain parts of the country
e particularly in the Southwest, a veal
ling calf will now bring more none
l. than it, mother the department
says. The immediate reason for thi
IS is that the calf is in extremel
2. strong demand for feeding purpose
c. whereas the supply of COWS exceed
the demand. If the basic or funC
g mental reason for the condition
it demanded, the answer is not so sin
If pie. The question at onc arises {
IN to whether the condition is due to
Of surplus of breeding animals or to
K. temporary glut of such stock
st market centers caused by a lars
n number of operators going out of Il
We cattle business. 1t seem probabl
n however, that both factors are ope
'e, ating at the present time, the d
" partment says.
al -