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during- the past year. Drought prevailed in southern and north- 

 eastern counties, and many animals were forced to market. The 

 prices of heavy cattle, two and three-year-old steers and up, in- 

 creased appreciably, but there was a tendency for yearlings and 

 cows to decrease during the year. The demand for stockers in the 

 fall of 1917 was below normal, and many that would normally be 

 marketed had to be wintered. The shortage of range feed and the 

 overstocked condition of the ranges caused many thousands of cattle 

 to starve in the drought stricken areas. Some cattle were fed, and 

 those strong enough to stand shipping to market were sent to 

 packers, without regard to age or sex. The number of cattle in the 

 State has been materially reduced during the past year, and there 

 will not be the normal number to go to market next year unless 

 forced liquidation continues on account of the drought and scarcity 

 of money. 



A distinct tendency to place the production of range animals 

 on a more secure and substantial basis has been observed during 

 the past year. Over 5,000,000 acres of range land have been pur- 

 chased and an equal area leased during the past two years. The 

 control of the land in this way makes it possible for the stockmen 

 to protect their range by fencing, developing water, and avoiding 

 overgrazing. B}- the application of improved methods stockmen 

 claim that they can double the carrying capacity of the range, and 

 reserve feed to carry the animals over drought. Tanks and deep 

 wells have been installed, allowing a more even distribution of the 

 animals on the range, besides making available large areas of little 

 value for stock production without water. More registered sires 

 have been used than at any previous time, and they are certain to 

 effect a distinct improvement in the quality of the offspring. The 

 large number of cowboys and sheep herders who enlisted in the war 

 made it necessary to perfect measures for conducting operations 

 with a smaller labor force. Not a few of the large cattle and sheep 

 outfits have purchased irrigated farms which are operated in con- 

 junction with the range business. Forage crops are being pro- 

 duced wherever possible, and conserved in stacks and silos to be 

 L'sed in drought emergencies. As a result of these improvements 

 stockmen are able to give the animals closer attention and with less 

 labor, so that losses will be reduced in the future, and with normal 

 rainfall there will be greater production and larger returns from 

 Arizona ranges in spite of the apparent increase in all the items 

 figured in cost of production. 



