The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-02-17
STATE LIVESTOCK
IN GOOD CONDITION,
REPORT INDICATES

January Weather Best on Rec
ord; Feed Supplies Are Good
and Losses Light
Grand Forks, N. D., Feb. l7.-North
Dakota livestock are In excellent on
dition for this season Of the year, &C
cording to the January reort issued
here by the statistician for the federal
department of agriculture.
Reporters indicate IN their COM
mepts that January weather was, per
haps, more favorable than any Janu-
airy in the history of the state, as the
temperatures were higher than any of
previous record. The mean tempera-
ture for January Is about I degrees
above zero. The January temperature
for this year was 20 degrees. Similar
temperatures were also prevalent in
South Dakota, Montana and Wyo-
ming. This also holds true OF the
balance OF the II range states.
The precipitation during January In
North Dakota was also phenomenal In
that 1t was very low. The normal for
the month Is about IS Of an inch. The
total precipitation. including rain and
snow. was only IL Of an inch. There
is only one other January since 1892
which had as low a precipitation, that
being in 1893, which was also only III
of an inch. These records are the
lowest in the last 80 years in the state.
However, precipitation for the four
months, September, October, Noven-
Der, December Of 1890 averaged $50
inches compared with q normal OF
3.76 inches for this period. In 1928
fof the same period the precipitation
was 2.l0 inches and for 1929. 4.S4
inches. South Dakota, Montana and
Wyoming were also very short In pre-
cipitation for January. In Utah, Ne
vada and Idaho much of the range is
covered with snow while In North Da-
kota the ground is almost wholly bare.
There was less snow at Williston than
in any year since 1879.
Feed supplies in North Dakota are
very good as reporters indicate that
the feed supply will last about 30 days
more which is ample to carry the stock
until spring and new grass. Very few
of the reporters have to use purchased
feed to supplement their own supplies.
Feed supplies are equally plentiful IN
South Dakota, Montana and Wyo-
ming. In the balance of the range
states, the mild weather has saved
food to the extent that there is now
sufficient food to carry the stock
through.
Stock losses have been very light 50
far. in the state. Death losses IN
South Dakota, Montana and Wyo-
ming have also been unusually light
during the winter. In the balance OF
the western range states death losses
have been unusually low
Stock water in North Dakota Is am
pie as q whole, with scattering ranches
experiencing some shortage. No wa
ter shortage for stock has been re-
ported from the other states.
Range Conditions Good
North Dakota ranges have supplied
more than the usual amount OF tood
during January because Of the lack Of
snow and ideal weather. conditions
The condition figure Of 70 per cent OF
normal is 4 points below that OF last
month, 8 points above a year ago and
higher than the five-year average OF
75.6. Except in the states Of Utah, Ne
vada and Arizona, there was an I'M
proyement in the range condition. The
condition figure for the range states
is SO per cent Of normal compared
with 81 q month ago, 70 a year ago
and 84.5 for the five-year average.
Pastures Of North Dakota were 50
closely grazed last fall that virtually
they have no feed value. They have
been augmented by the fields. The
condition of pastures is placed at 81
per cent Of normal.
Cattle and Calves
x The condition Of cattle in North Da-
kota indicates a slight improvement
over last month, due. no doubt. to the
ideal weather. and the plentiful feed
supply. Some reporters state their
cattle are in better condition than
when they were put up for the winter,
The condition figure is % per cent Of
normal which is / point higher than q
month ago, 8 points higher than q
wear ago and 2 points higher than the
five-year average. Similar gains are
reported from South Dakota, Montana
and Wyoming.
Cattle in all the western states show
Improvement in condition save Utah
and Nevada, where a slight decline
was noted. The condition for the
range states is IS per cent Of normal
compared with IS q month ago, g 9
year ago and 87.2 for the five-yeaI
average.
Sheep and Lambs
North Dakota sheep and lambs did
not improve during the month but
held their last months condition fig
ure of SO per cent compared with 81 2
wear ago and 81. the fve-year aver
age. South Dakota and Wyoming
sheep also show no change In condt-
ton while in Montana there was an
increase fom 81 to 96 per cent Of
normal.
In the range states as a whole. the
condition figure is 80 per cent OF nor
NAL for the month, 50 q month ago!
and a6 . year ago, and 81 for the iive-
year average.
Members of y. Debate
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