The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1927-04-29
MONTANA LIVESTOCK
AND RANGE SUMMARY


of young lambs than expected by
.sheepmen when Landing started, ac-
cOding to the April summary of the
.state-federal crop reporting division.
More seasonable weather is also need
ed to start new range feed in some
eastern sections of the state where
feed supplies are short.
Otherwise, reports from stOckmen
at the beginning of April indicated
a fairly favorable start of the spring
season, according to the summary of
the situation at that date.
In general the April 1st livestock
situation was satisfactory throughout
the state. Livestock was reported in
good condition with promise of good
lamb and fall crops. March weather
was seasonable and the month closed
with a general wet snow which i'm
proved the outlook for spring range
grass.
RANGES: The condition of ranges
as of April l, 1927, is placed at SO
per cent of normal compared with SO
per cent last month and 81 per cent
on the first of April a year ago.
From standpoint of soil moisture
reserves conditions have not been bet
ter in several years. Most of the
lower ranges are now free of snow
and the higher ranges are clearing
up gradually. Sufficient feed for or
binary needs is reported generally
with surplus hay in some western sec
tions.
CATTLE: Condition of cattle on
April 1, 1927, placed at 90 per cent
of normal the same as last month
and compares with 1O5 the condition
on April 1, 1926 Cattle generally in
excellent condition with a good calf
crop reported. Some cold weather
losses of early calves, however, is
now indicated.
SHEEP At 80 per cent of normal
sheep maintained the condition of a
month ago, which was four points be-
low the condition as of April 1. 1926.
Sheep considered to be in excellent
condition with prospect of a very
good lamb crop. Breeding ewes are
reported in good condition and lamb
ing started favOrably The large
bulk of Montana lambs are now shed
lambs which offsets to some extent
the effect of the recent unfavorable
weather on lamb losses.
A recent inventory for the Nation
al forests of Montana shows that the
states forest land is the home of
5O,OOO deer, $500 elk, LAG moose.
LOU mountain sheep, 3,7OO mountain
goats, besides a large number of fur
bearing animals, making a total of
approximately 10000 forest inhabi-
tants IN the state, says the biennial
report of the state department of fish
and game.
Glen A. Smith, chairman of the
Montana sportsmen's association.
says: From the best estimate OBJ
tamable the national forests repre-
sent about so per cent of the big
game range with in the state. It Is
there that about the same percentage
OF our big game finds food and shell
ted"
Each officer in the forest service is
commissioned a deputy state fish and
game warden and it is these men who
have made the above inventory and
are now making careful studies to
determine:
L. The number and kind of big
game animals inhabiting the forests:
Z. The area and kinds of land oc-
cupied and best adapted to their
needs;
3. The available winter and sum-
mer range;
4: The feeding and breeding habits
OF big game animals:
D. The adaptability of each stream
for fish and the kind best suited to
it. ''0u ~
Two thousand cattle men and 500
sheep men will participate this sea
son In the use of forest ranges in the
IL national forests of Montana.
Federal forest reservations in the
state comprise an area of $4,000 600
acres and furnish range for approx
mately $4,000 cattle, 10000 horses
and $4,000 sheep. Approximately 20
per cent OF all sheep in the state are
ranges IN the national forests.
Officials of the United States for
est service make the statement that
the forests of Montana are one of
the greatest of the states national
resources, making possible a lumber
ing industry of considerable size and
IN addition making important con-
trlbutlons to the development of agri-
culture, mining and other industries
IN the state" In view of tba fact
that one-fifth of Montana's total are
of y4,OO0,000 acres is forest land. on
which there is at present a total stand
OF a little over $4,000, OOO.O 900 board
feet Of merchantable lumber. the
truth of this statement is self-evident
The handling of the lumber products
from these forests areas EMPLOYS
900 of the states population and
yields nearly three-quarters of a mil
hon dollars in taxes toward the sun
port OF city, county and state gov
eminent. The western part of the
state is the center of numbering activ-
lty. Over half of the stand in west
ern Montana is available for COM
mercial use.
The value of the timber products
added to the service rendered to stock
men by the national forests of the
tate gives ample foundation for the
belief expressed by forest officials
Z that the prosperity Of Montana pre-
sent and future, is in no small meas
ure dependent upon proper use of hel
forest resources"
MONTANA WEEKLY