Gunnison news-champion., 1924-07-11
Ranch and Rance
LOSSES SUFFERED BY
RANGE CATTLE INDUSTRY
IN 1922 SHOWN IN REPORT

/ AHE1E OF tluGltS ffl1Qe ON
| the United States Department of Ag-
/ riculture from detailed reports cover
! ing about 55 cattle ranches in Colo
( rado, New Mexico and Oklahoma, 70,
| 1922, show il cost prairie ranehmer
| in that year an actual cash outlay OF
/ S27.9s TO produce a calf which sold or
I the ranch for S2l.50. II COS. cattle
men operating cattle ranches a cas-
outlay OF s3i.6S 20 produce q calf
which sold for s25. Prairie ranches
I thus lost s6.4S per calf and mountain
Z ranches s6.6s per calf. In addition TO
this loss, the ranch propnetors re-
ceiyeu no interest on their investment
and no return for their own labor.
Production costs differed widely on
the ranches studied. One ranch with
calf crop of 20 per cent, had a gross
cost per calf of $3.50, while another
ranch, which had calf crop of only
50 per cent, had gross cost per calf
Of Se5.l2. Methods of managing the
breeding herd, says the department,
were largely responsible for this diff
ference in cost. In general il is de-
clared, the size of the calf crop, the
winter feed bill and .he labor cos.
we're the factors having the most in
iiuence on the cost of calf production.
On II prairie ranches the cost per
calf varied from sig.s6 TO $50 so,
while on 2: mountain ranches the cost
Varied from S2S.65 to S66.i2.
On the II prairie ranches the aver
age annual gross cost of carrying n
COW was S20.5l. This total included
leases paid on land. actual interest
paid on land and cattle, interest on the
operators investment, and a charge
for the labor of the operator for the
work actually done. On the mountain
ranges the annual gross cost of carry
ing a COW was 1888 more than on the
prairie ranches. This higheS cost was
mainly due TO the greater expense of
feed and labor required in handling
cattle on the mountain ranches.
Breeding herds on the ranches, says
the department, compared favorably
with the best cattle owned BY western
stock growers. The value of breeding
cows on the mountains varied from
S33 TO S72 per head, with an average
value of sis.97. The value of the bulls
averaged from $50 to S29s. Some in
dividual bulls cost as high rs $3.50 to
$500.
Costs on some ranches were greatly
increased by blizzards which destroyed
many calves at calving time On some
forest ranges there was q heavy death
loss from larkspur and other poison
GUS plants. Much loss from poisonous
plants, says the department, can be
avoided by fencing the worst patches,
herding cattle away from them, or
grubbing scattered larkspur
Many areas in the national forests
in Colorado, the department says.
should be controlled by fences where
ever practical Amy change that would
enable stockmen TO fence and improve
their leased forest land so that they
can protect their herds, would help to
cut production costs materially. The
department says long term leases, un-
der conditions holding each ranchman
responsible for the part he occupies,
would encourage the protection of the
carrying capacity of the forest ranges.
In order that cattlemen may operate
on the national forests efficiently, it is
said, they should be permitted to Craze
a large enough number of cattle to
make an efficient and economic unit. II
compelled TO reduce their herds below
this limit, their operating costs be-
come prohibitive-
The principal causes of over-grazing
il is noted, are early grazing, poor dis
tribution of stock, too many stock, and
improper handling of stock due in
part to lack Of range improvements.
Better utilization of the range, says
the department, will help ranchmen TO
reduce their production costs. Ami
mails in good flesh, it is pointed out,
usually sell to advantage. While no
more feed should be fed in the winter
than is necessary to keep the stock in
a thrifty condition, the department
says it is not economy to let the ami
mails get too thin. 1t urges that SER
ious consideration should be given
means for increasing the calf crop BY
better management of breeding herds.
This can be done, it is declared, by
culling nonproductive cows, by pro-
viding the proper amount of range to
maintain the cattle in good flesh, by
owning enough good, well-bred bulls.
and by holding the breeding herd in
small pastures before turning them
out on the open range
On the ranges covered in this study
the average rate of turnover of capi-
tai was very low. 1t was 90 per cent
on the prairie ranches and l3 per cent
on the mountain ranches. This low
turnover was partly due to the low
prices prevailing for cattle and to the
fact that cattle were held on the
ranches for higher prices. Cutting
down the average age at which cattle
are sold, it is pointed out, is one ef-
fective means of speeding up the turn-
over.
Ranchmen would find it advisable,
says the department, to distribute
their steers over a longer season Of
marketing, to sell them as two-year
olds rather than three-year olds, and
where they are well bred and ranch
men have the necessary grass, to let
them 20 to market as yearlings or ev-
en- as calves. II these cattle are rs fat
as possible and are in good condition
.a-a=alIs. bat h,..,oxs. s,.ill h;d On