Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1930-01-30
LIVESTOCK CONDITION
THROUGHOUT STATE

wy So'iuitioH oI LIVESTOCK on
/, further snowfall and extremely
low temperatures since that date have
necessitated heavy feeding and pro-
badly caused considerable shrinkape,
Feed supplies on January l were
reported as showing effects of the
heavy feeding requirements during
most of December in spite of some
relief that came with mild weather
the last week of December and first
few days of Janu. ny.
Stockmen at present generally need
a change to much, milder weather of
if present hay supplies are to meet
feeding requirments without short
ages.
Cattle-Showed some decline dur
ing the month of December except
west Of the Continental Divide where
a slight gain was noted. Cattle were
generally in good flesh ON January |
with few losses and few thin ones.
Condition of cattle as Of January l
was placed at 81 per cent of normal
compared with 81 last month, 1O2
per cent a year ago and the Swear
! average of 1913 per cent.
Sheep-Condition of sheep is not
up to average although on January l,
range sheep were generally in good
condition. Heaviest shrink was no
ported in those districts where snow
was badly crusted, especially the cen
trail part Of the state. Conditions of
sheep on January l was placed at 80
per cent of normal compared with 90
last month, 101 a year ago and the
5-year average of 900 per cent
Representation of ranges on
January l in Montana was placed at
IS per cent of normal compared with
80 per cent last month, 104 per cent
a year ago and the Swear average of
$50 per cent of normal.
Hay and Feed Supplies-On jan
uary l, some shortage was indicated
in every district of the state. In
most cases, however, the reporters in
dicateed that they would have a suf-
ficient amount of feed to carry their
stock through the remainder Of the
winter providing the winter remained
normal. In many cases concentrates
and beet pulp where available is be-
ing used to supplement hay supplies.
Cattle on Feed January l, 1880
The number of cattle on feed for
market in the II corr belt states was
about one per cent smaller on JAN
uary l, 1880 than on January l, 1929,
according to the cattle feeding esti-
mates of the Department of Agricul-
ture. There was about the same de-
crease reported for the total number
on feed in the western states. A de-
crease of Ia per cent is reported in !
the number on feed in the Lancaster
area in Pennsylvania.
The movement of stockers and the
feeder cattle inspected through mar
ket into the Corn Belt for the six
months, July to December 1929 was
about 2 per cent larger than in 1928;
ID per cent larger than in 1927 and
abount the same as the 5-year av-
The movement was unusually late
this year; SO per cent Of the six
months total moved during the last
three months compared with only
per cent last year and SO per cent
for the 10-year average.
The average weight of stocker and
feeder steers shipped from four OF
the leading markets was a little heav-
ier this year than last, but the pro-
of heavy feeders lover 900
lbs. was smaller and there was a
larger increase in feeder calves.
Sheep and Lambs on Feed Jan. l, 1880
The number of sheep and lambs on
feed for market in the principal feed
-ng states on January /, 1880 was
5,49O, 900 head or Is per cent larger
han an January l, 1929, according
O the estimates Of the U. S. Depart
nent of Agriculture. The number
estimated being 4,792,O0O head on
January l, 1929 and 4,463,O00 an JAN
l, 1929.
The number on feed in the western
states of 2.793, 900 head was about
$50 900 head larger this year than
asst. While the greater part Of this
Increase was in Colorado, there was
,ome increase in nearly every state
n the region, decreases being shown
n Washington and Oregon. The es-
mated number on feed in Colorado
vas 1890 900 this year compared
o 100000 head a year ago. The big
Increase was in Northern Colorado
where the number this year was H.
900 compared to 100000 head a
near ago; there was an increase of
.bout $4,000 head in the Arkansas
Valley and about $4,000 increase in
he rest of the States.
The estimated number on feed in
he corn belt States including West
I'm Nebraska was 100000 head larg-
# this year than last. The estimated
otals were 2,697,OO0 this year; g.
,59, 900 in 1929 and 2,106,000 in 1920.
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