The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-03-30
Biq Increase in Heifer Ratio
Shown by Department Of
/. Agriculture Survey
NUMBER OF SWINE SHRINKS
Hog Producer in More Favor
able Situation, Marketing
Estimates Indicate

again reduced the number OF dairy
cows during the year 1928 according
10 the annual livestock inventory cs-
Inmates issued by the United States
Department of Agriculture. This Is
the third consecutive year in which
the number of dairy COWS has been
decreased In these four states. The
high point was reached at the end of
1925 when the dairy COW population
was 1881 900. While the number OF
dairy cows has been decreased the
average production per cow has cvi-
IDENTIFY been steadily increased, as the
farmers dairy cash income in the
ninth federal reserve district has
shown all increase during each OF the
last five years.
Northwestern dairymcn were rails
Ing per cent more to 2-year -old
llcifers than they were at the end Of
tho preceding year. The total num-
Der Of dairy heifcrs was Coz 900,
nearly % per cent of the number Of
dairy cows, which Is considerably in
excess Of the percentage needed for
requirements, indicating that the
datrymen expect either to continue
building up the quality of their herds
by replacing some Of their older, low
producing cows with their better bred
young stock. or to increase the size of
their herds during the coming year.
Farmers whose .diversification pro-
grams include the finishing of beef
cattle for market held larger numbers
OF beef cattle on January l, 1919, than
= year ago. During the first two
months of 1929 prices of ordinary
butcher cattle have averaged about
as high as year ago, but prime
butcher steers have been little low
or. The increased number of cattle
on feed in the district is more than
offset by decreases In other sections
Of the United States. Furthermore.
in the ninth district. in the important
range beef cattle area-the ranges of
Montana and South Dakota-de-
crcaseS are again shown.
IS Fewer Swine Also
The number of swine on farms in
Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota
and South Dakota was 10 per cent
sInaller than the number on hand a
greatest in the most important swine
producing sections, Minnesota and
South Dakota. The only increase was
in Montana where there were IA per
cent more hogs on hand than on the
same date the year before. For the
United States as a whole, 8 pei
cent inventory decrease was csti-
mated.
The smaller number of hogs or
hand at the beginning Of the 1926
breeding season. coupled with tn.
probable decreased spring borrowings
Is Indicated by the December l pig
survey, places the hog producer in q
very favorable position. Median hog
prices have been higher every month
Beginning last November, than fol
the same month year earlier. The
greatest increase for the November.
February period was In February
when the 1929 median hog price was
$40 compared with $7.85 in 1928. Fo,
- consecutive weeks, beginning the
middle Of December. the average
weekly hog price at South st. Pau
was higher than that of the preceding
week. This constant increase If
price has never before been recorded
for so many consecutive weeks since
the United States Department Of
Agriculture established its bureau Of
markets office at South st. Paul IL
1870.
With the bulk of the 1928 spring pif
crop now marketed, it is possible K
review the marketing season and re.
vtee monthly marketing estimates
Revised figures for farmers cash In,
came from hogs for August to De,
cember. 1928, together with a revised
estimate for the calendar year 1928
4re given in the accompanying table
0ctober marketings were considerable,
- cxcess OF the estimated markctings
With the result that the revised in
oeme figure is $500, 900 higher thar
the original estimate. It is interest
Ing to note that while August an,
september rnedian prices were 81
and $H.60, respectively. the highes
6incc March, 1927. these high price
failed to draw even an average per
utage Of the l1ogs to supply tn
erket.
Revised Hog Income Estimates
(, Atansa~k a = ARA a.