New Britain herald., 1923-01-18
NOW POSSIBLE ID
 RAISE MORE BEEF
Larger Proportion Of Bssl Cows
 Kept on Ranches

Washington, Jan. IS. - Although there are actually fewer beef cattle in the United States at present than there have been in previous years. II is now possible to raise more beef each year than when there were more cattle. This somewhat contra dietcry statement is explained by the United States department or agrienl- ture which shows that n large pro- portion of beef cows are kept on ranches and farms. and beef cattle are slaughtered at an earlier age than used to he the practice.
 In q discussion of the American cattle industry during the last 70 years, tho year book of the depart ment for 1921. which has just been published. described the growth and changes of practice in the business. Tho system Of using younger cattle for beef purposes. the yearbook cS- plains involves the use Of more har. vested feed per 100 pounds Of beef produeed, since n larger proportion Of the gains in weight are made in the feed lot than was formerly the case when steers were carrie1 four or five seasons on grass
 While the total number of cattle in the country has decreased in recent years. the article states. the situation as not as serious as might appear since the number of cattle is greater now than in any year from 1Ss6 10 1917. Census figures for 1900 and 1920 show there has been an increase in the percentages of beef calves, heifers. cows and bulls, and de- crease in the percentage Of steers especially aged steers. The number Of cattle in tho country increased lo,- 200 .000 from 1914 to 1919, but during the last three years there has been a decrease of 2,000,000 head. However the greater proportion Of cows al present makes it possible to grow more beef. especially if more or the calves. instead of being slaughtered are fed out as yearlings.
 Country Cap Respond
 ..That the country can readily re- spond to a quickened demand TOT beef. was demonstrated during the war when production was so stimu- lated that during 1917 and 19lS com hined more than one billion pounds of beef were exported which was per cent of our production and 22 per cent of the exports of the world dur- ing the period" the YearbooK oe' clares. Since about 1905 Soutn Am erica and Australia have been the chief sources of surplus beef.
 Americans are eating less beef per capita than formerly. it is stated. The consumption of beef and veal in the United States {. decreased from sI pounds per person in 1907 to oo no,nds in 1916. Between the periods of 1907 to 1910 and 1911 to 1921 ihere has been a decrease Tn con- sumption amounting to approximate ly 20 per cent. E.,
 The article includes interesting in formation to those engaged in the ln- dustry. on the variations in demand for different kinds of beef in various cities and in changing seasons. High class hotels, it is noted, want prime fat and finished beef. while the aver age housewife wants beef lnVolVlns less waste. In warm weather the principal demand is for steaks ana chons while the winter trade de- mands more roasts and boiling meat The orthodox Jewish trade uses only the foreauarters, while Gentiles, as rule, prefer hindquarters of beef.
 Survey Is Made
 A survey made in 1920 showed that at that time nearly S2 percent of the beef produced was consumed lin the North Atlantic states. The next largest amount, or A per cent was consumed in the east-north cen tral division. In other words, moro than 55 per cent of the total con sumption of beef and veal occurred in the territory east of the Mississipp and north of the Ohio river and Mary land. The smallest consumption oc' cured in the South Atlantic division
 The survey of the beef cattle islt' uation, leads to the conclusion, ac' cording to the department experts that the period of liquidation is, over and that when industrial conditions and retail prices permit a norma consumption of beef, cattle producers should be prosperous again