The border vidette., 1927-01-08
LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY
AGAIN THRIVING

| Arizona's livestock industry
again has established itself as q
thriving, growing industry, says
The Arizona Republican.
| The end of the 1925 year finds
the cattle and the sheep men of
the state in a healthier condition,
industrially speaking. than at
any time since the close of the
world war.
| Cattle men, particularly, en-
| joyed good year in 1926. The
three years Immediately preced.
ing had been ones of liquidation.
1t was the crisis period for the
cattlemen and the Industry as a
whole underwent practically g.
complete reorganization.
/ In consequence, the opening
of the 1926 year found him in
better position, financially and
| otherwise, than be had been for
4 several years past. But even
| so. his worries we're not over.
| A poor year might undo all that
had been done.
| Fortunately. the cattle man
had good year. Spring ranges
were all that could be desired
and while droughts were report.
ed in some sections during the
summer months, the caatle did
not suffer for lack of food. In
early fall, rains again replenish-
ed the feed and with plenty of
moisture on the mountain areas
this fall, there is every indica.
tion that good spring feed will
be available.
/ Marketing conditions also
showed marked Improvement
during the year, though the Ari.
zona cattle man disposed of a
smaller percentage of his stock
than is his custom. This is due,
probably, to his improved fnan-
cial condition. In 1922, 1928,
1924 and 1925 he was forced to
sell under unfavorable market.
ing conditions to liquidate his
lohligations. - -,
| What cattle were marketed
during theyear, however, brought
better prices than at any other
time since the wars close. Even
so, they were not sufficiently
large to cause the cattle men
any great enthusiasm, but the
gradual Improvement gave evi.
dence of the hopeful situation
for the months to come.
Too, cattle men also benefited
from the relief granted them by
congress in remitting forest
grazing fees for the year. At
the outset, it seemed that this
grazing assessment would work
serious injury to the growers
and it probably would have had
the order held. This would have
been dne largely to the inability
of cattle men, in many instances,
to pay the fee aud, in conse.
} quence, force them to surrender
their permits within the forested
areas.
Success of the cattle industry
has been shared. at least in part,
by the sheepmen of the state.
too. The end of the current
year finds the sheep industry
generally in a greatly improved
condition over year ago at this
time, especially from q financial
standpoint.
Last winter, the feeding ex-
pense was considerably lighter
than the expense for pastures
the previous winter and there
was q natural decrease in the
cost of overhead.
Wool did not bring as good g.
price, on the average, as the
previous year. The clip was ex.
ceedingly we'll grown. however,
and probably made up in weight
and staple what it lacked in
price.
The mohair industry is per.
haps the most thriving and rap.
idly growing branch of the live.
stock industry of the state. says
a recent bulletin issued by the
Arizona Wool Growers associa.
ton. Continuing, it says.
Eight years ago there were
about 10000 angora goats in the
state. Now there are something
over 10000 head. Mohair
brought fair price this fall,
averaging 81 cents q pound"