82 MONTANA FARM REVIEW 



Beef Cattle. 



Following the severe deflation of 1919, the tendency of beef production in 

 Montana has been largely that of maintaining itself, and while there was a con- 

 tinued decrease in straight range cattle to some extent this has been offset by 

 larger holdings of farm cattle. On January 1, 1919, prior to the heavy liquidation 

 of that year when nearly 642,000 head were shipped out, total numbers on farms 

 and ranges of cattle other than milk cows was placed at 1,447,000. A year from 

 that date the number was placed at 1,088,000 head, ranging between 1,138,000 and 

 1,195,000 in the next four years to 1925. During 1925 another heavy liquidation 

 has taken place. The nature of this liquidation has been largely that of taking 

 advantage of the relatively high prices of 1925 compared with any post-war year. 



January 1, 1926, numbers placed at 1,052,000 are now lower than any inven- 

 tory since 1910, indicating that the beef end of the industry has gone a long 

 way in readjusting itself to the post-war trend of prices. 



Since the Montana beef situation is influenced to a large degree by the compe- 

 tition of other states, it is of interest to Montana stockmen to know that in line 

 with the liquidation in Montana cattle other than milk cows, there has been a 

 corresponding decrease in total numbers in the United States as a whole. 



The estimates of January 1, 1926, show 33,678,000 cattle other than milk cows 

 in the United States against 35,391,000 a year ago. As indicating the trend of 

 this competition since 1920, all cattle in the United States, including milk cows, 

 declined from 68,900,000 head on January 1, 1920, to 59,800,000 head on January 1, 

 1926, a decrease of about 9,000,000 head. The analysis of this decrease is signifi- 

 cant in that it shows a decrease of 2,900,000 in steers ; 3,400,000 in calves ; 1,100,000 

 in heifers, and 1,600,000 head in cows. The average annual decrease in this 

 period has been about 1,500,000 head. , 



Commenting on this situation, the Agricultural Outlook of the United States 

 Department of Agriculture, while admitting a favorable outlook both in its imme- 

 diate and long-time aspects, points out the fact that although beef cows have 

 decreased 2,500,000 head, the number of milk cows is about 1,000,000 larger than 

 in 1920, and many of these cows produce beef calves. The present number of 

 breeding animals is furthermore considered as being probably large enough to pro- 

 duce as much beef as it will pay cattle producers to raise. 



Montana cattle men in common with those of the rest of the country have 

 seen cattle prices working through a slow cycle reaching comparatively low prices 

 in recent years. Cattle prices are now generally believed to be in the upward 

 swing of that cycle, with the peak still several years in the future. 



During the last half of 1926 total market receipts of cattle are expected to 

 fall considerably below those of 1925. In this analysis, marketings of range cat- 

 tle are expected to be materially less, but the number of grain-finished cattle may 

 be larger. A marked decrease in steers, both grass fat and feeders, is indicated, 

 and calf slaughter in 1926 is expected to be less than in 1925. 



While the prices for beef cattle during this period will depend somewhat on 

 the general business situation, the general level is expected to average higher than 

 last year. 



Montana cattle men, by careful culling and better care of calf crops, have an 

 opportunity to maintain their quantity of beef of a higher quality without increas- 

 ing present numbers and with reasonable expectation that such beef should sell 

 at higher prices. By maintaining high grade breeding herds rather than rela- 

 tively large numbers of steers as in the past, cattle men will be in a position to 

 increase production promptly when prices justify attaining thereby a more flexible 

 production, lower production costs and quicker turnovers. 



