The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1925-12-25
RANGES AND STOCK
CONDITIONS ARE
EXCELLENT
TTifle Less Favorable in Eastern
Half of State, Because of
Summer Drought

Reports from stOckmen show an
excellent condition of ranges, cattle,
and sheep for the state as a whole,
with less favorable conditions in some
spots in the eastern half of the state
where summer drOuth reduced range
and feed prospects, according to the
monthly summary of the Montana Co
operative Crop and Livestock Report
ing service.
November was a comparatively
open month with many days of sur
shine and chinook winds which re-
duced the snow cover on the lower
ranges to a point where this feed was
generally available by the middle of
the month. Preceding this time feed
ing was general and with the early
start and local shortages Of hay and
feed crops in the eastern half of the
state, some further selling off of cat
tie took place. Hay prices also teno-
ed to rise during the first part of the
month and are now moderately higher
than a year ago. Range condition
continues excellent in the western
third of the state, is generally good
in the central third, barring some
snow in the higher attitudes, and is
somewhat sP~ tied in the eastern thiru
due to summer drought.
Ranges and Stock
"Rnge condition on aDecember 1 av-
Range condition on December 1 av-
pared with 81 per cent a month g
and 90 per cent a year age.
Cattle condition continues to av-
erage above normal in the western
third Of The state, tspering off mod
erately eastward CT the mountains.
For the state, cattle averaged SO per
cent Of a normal, compared with 1Os
per cent a month ago and SO per cent
a year ago.
Sheep condition is fully up to nor
NAL in the important sheep counties
and slightly lower than this average
in the eastern third Of the state. The
condition for the state averages 10I
per cent Of a normal, compared with
the same average a month and a year
ago.
Cattle on Feed
"Cattle on feed in the state On De-
cember / show an increase of about
25 per cent compared with a year ago.
This increase comes about through
some new feeding this year in the
Chinook factory area and somewhat
larger numbers fed in the Big Hole
basin, these increases more than off
setting a slight reduction for cattle
feeding in the Billings factory area.
Estimated number being fattened this
.year totals $4,000 head, compared
with $1,000 fed last year. Total es-
Inmates for nine western states in
Guiding Montana show $4,000 cattle
on feed this December against $4,000
a year ago. In the corn belt states
the United States department Of ag-
riculture estimates a decrease of 3
per cent in the number Of cattle on
feed for market this December 1, COM
pared with a year ago. In the corn
belt states east of the Mississippi
river there was an increase Of z per
cent which was more than offset by a
decrease of 6 per cent in the states
~ west of the river.
Sheep and Lambs
'ts sheep n lambs on feed in the
n state on December 1 aggregate about
q, II per cent less than a year ago, the
=, estimate being 10000 compared with
125, 900 head. The bulk of such feed
- ing is with lambs, the high prices Of
which were not very encouraging for
a. feeding operations this winter. In the
"a Billings factory area the decrease ap-
!, pears to be somewhere between 25 to
= 80 per cent. Considerable sheep and
- lambs are being wintered in the Sid
!, ney area and the Chinook area is
~ feeding some sheep and lambs on
pulp for the first time. There are
20, comparatively large numbers Of sheep
and eve lambs wintering in all the
feeding areas compared with last
~ year. In ten western states the total
q is 2,S19,0O this year compared with
u 1885, 900 g year ago. The far west
Z ern states have an increase Of about
81 26 per cent over last year which i:
y more than offset by a decrease in tn,
Il eastern slope mountain states, par
81 ticularly Colorado, the most impOrtan.
~ state, which has 1897 600 against 1,
an 100000 a year ago.