Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1926-03-12
BEEF CATTLE CUT
DOWN BY MILLIONS


Both the immediate and longtime
outlook for the cattle industry now
appear more favorable than in recent
years. The number of steers is the
lowest in many years; beef cows
number 2.5 millions less than in
1920, but milk cows are more than a
million greater and many of these
produce beef calves. The number
of breeding animals is apparently
la &c enough at present to produce
as much beef as it will pay cattle
producers to raise. A reasonably
constant demand for beef is anti
cipated and no prospect of early COM
petition in United States markets
from foreign sources is in sight. Cat
tie prices are apparently in the up
ward swing of the cycle with the
peak still several years in the future.
According to the most recent esti-
mates of the department, the num-
Der of all cattle in the United States
declined almost 100000 head be-
tween January 1, 1920, and January
1, 1926, or from $500, 900 to So
100000 The estimated decreases
were 100000 steers, 1900, 900
calves, 100000 heifers and 1,4OO,-
600 cows. This represents an aver
age annual decrease of about 1,5OO,-
600 head during the period. OF this
decrease, 100000 were in the areas
from which the supply going into in
spected slaughter is derived.
Since the number of milk COWS in
creased steadily from 1920 to 1924
and only decreased slightly in 1925,
it is certai nthat most of the decrease
in cows has been in those most d.
rectly related to the beef supply. The
number of cows of all
kinds in 1920 was about 33,,30O,0O0
and in 1925 about 31,8O0,O00. Dur
ing the same time, the estimated
of milk COWS decreased from
21,23O,OOO to %, 100000. The de-
crease in COWS devoted exclusively
to beef production is thus indicated
at around 100000 head. However,
a considerable part of the cows kept
for milk are cows of beef type whose
Increase is largely saved for beef pur-
poses.
The present beef cattle situation,
seems to one of a shortage
If steers, especially of those over
.wo years of age, but with breeding
herds of cows and heifers sufficiently
arge to maintain as much produc-
ion as will pay cattlemen to pro-
luce.
Apparently the yearly inspected
laughter of cattle and calves cannot
greatly exceed 100000 head with
tut still further depicting numbers.
! slaughter of this number would be
Iearly 20 per cent under that of the
Iast year.
The sharp advance in prices of fin
shed cattle in the summer Of 1925,
Though not maintained to the end Z
f the year, served the purpose Of
eyealing the underlying strength Of t
he market and showed what may be I
expected whenever real curtailment c
f supplies develops. If the prospec- I
i've smaller supplies of pork in 1926 1
esult in higher prices for that com t
lodity, an increase in the demand a
Dr. beef can be expected. {
During the first half of 1926 mar {
ct receipts of slaughtered cattle are t
expected to be about the same as in t
925, with prospects favoring some e
hat heavier supplies of grass cattle
his spring from the southwest. Az
rage weights may be somewhat less A
ian a year ago, but average finish
nd quality will be somewhat better. \
verage prices are expected to show
gradual upward trend, although
it'll adequate supplies available, no
snsational advances are in sight.
During the last half of 1925, to-
il market receipts of cattle are ex-
scted to fall considerably below Y