The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1942-12-03
Worms AS To
Situation
.
Continued from page ~

close of war
Acute over production as herds
are iquidated-close of war
Precipi Gus Fall in Prices-after
close of war
Space will permit discussion only
of the coming feed shortage. Two
changes will be primarily RESPONSE
BILE for this.
First is the tremendous feed re-
quirements of the unusually large
livestock population. The country
can not feed one-fourth more hogs
this year without rapidly depict
ing grain supplies. Feeding sur
plus wheat will help care for the
! immediate needs.
Second will be lower crop yields
and poorer pastures. We are in the
9th year of abnormally high crop
yields. Favorable weather is the
most important reason for these
abundant crops. When crop yields
drop back to average, feed short
ages can quickly become acute.
What can farmers individually
do about this situation? Each case
must be studied and decisions made
according to the individual farm
and ownership conditions, but here
are some points worthy of serious
consideration:
|. Where a farm or ranch offers
opportunities for a choice, engage in
short-term operations such as.
a. Feeding instead of producing
livestock
] b. Short-term feeding instead of
long feeding for cattle.
Certainly there are few cases
where farmers should now start out
to develop a breeding herd of cat
tie, sheep, or horses. The war may
be over before many calves or colts
reach the market.
! 2. Feeders should feed more hogs
as contrasted to cattle. Hogs are
much more efficient producers Of
meat. Hog production and feeding
are short term low investment OPP
erations as compared with cattle.
When conditions become acute,
farmers can get out more quickly
and with less loss than with cat
tie.
3. Feed hogs to heavier weights
before sending them to market
800 pounds or more. Under pres
ent conditions it means more profit
i-S6.17 per hog more at 285 pound
weights as compared with zoe
pounds (Iowa State College calcu-
lations as of May Is, 1942).
Meat production can be increased
one-half by the simple process Of
feeding hogs to 500 pounds instead
of 200 pounds without increasing
the number of sows and with a very
small increase in the investment in
equipment. 1t accomplishes the
double objective of more profits to
the farmer and more aid to the war
effort.
AS long as the war lasts there
will be more and more demand for
lard and pork. When people arc
starving and on short rations there
is a constant craving for fat 1t is
the quick source of restoring en-
ergy.
In the face of the foregoing il
comes as shock to learn that or
some markets farmers are actuaIl,
selling hogs lighter than year
ago.
A. Follow the government sug-
gestion by culling cattle herds
closely to help meet the present
Ademand for beef. Pastures anc
rangeland that now appear under
stocked because of unusually ia.
! vorable pasture conditions are, ir
many cases, actually overstockec
for average conditions. This is the
time to apply the 'ever-norma
granary" principle to cattle and sci
: down the cattle herds to average
or below to (a) take advantage q
present high prices and tb) give
the needed meat to the nation dur.
ing the war.
Better run the risk of idle pas.
ture and an excess of hay thar
risk the greater dangers Of low
prices, overstocked, dry pastures
and feed shortage.
5. Get increased production b,
better care of the present livestock
raising more pigs calves, ans
lambs.
| 6. Increase milk and egg produc
, ton by better care and feeding.
Call hSrIx xx~i,cL kraoItrn cfnrl