196 MONTANA 19U 



a market through live stock. On such farms and on the dry bench farms there is 

 a large amount of fall feed in the fields and large strawstacks that make excellent 

 roughage for wintering live stock, more especially cattle. 



"The success of the live stock business in Montana in the past has been due 

 to cheap feed on the free, open range. The distance from the market made it 

 necessary that the labor entering into the growing of live stock should be reduced 

 to a minimum. The profits in the business are determined by the ability to keep 

 the labor cost on all that enters into the production of the beef to the lowest 

 possible amount. To as large an extent as possible the animal must harvest its 

 own feed." 



Ill addition to the caittle which may he ran.ijed during most of the year on 

 these uncultivated lands the heef production of the State will unquestion- 

 ably be larger in the near future by the development of small herds on 



thousands of successful farms throughotit the State. It has 

 In the Days been demonstrated that it is real economy for the farmer to 

 When the feed as man}'- head of livestock upon his ranch as is prac- 

 Small Herds ticable, and the large importation of high bred stock during 

 Appear. the past year indicates that an unusually numerous body of 



farmers are taking advantage of this condition. Among the 

 farmers of the State who endeavor to engage on a small scale in stockrais- 

 ing there is much interest now being manifested in the dual purpose cow, 

 of which a number of importations have been made. 



Mr. D. W. Raymond, secretar}- of the state board of stock commission- 

 ers, who is one of the best informed stockmen in the entire N'Orthwest, 

 unhesitatingly takes the position that the livestock industry in this State is 

 at the present time at the low ebb, but, in the restriction of the sale of 

 any but mature cattle and in the complete utilization of the range and water 

 facilities of the State, he predicts a certain and continuing increase in the 

 importance of Montana stockgrowing. In a brief statement, prepared for 

 this publication, Mr. Raymond says : 



"The production of beef has always been one of the important industries of 

 Montana. It necessarily will continue to be so. It is admitted by all who are fami- 

 liar with conditions that this state is now at the low ebb of cattle production. Dur- 

 ing the year 1913 Montana has exported approximately 170,000 head 

 Soeakinp- ^^ cattle. This number is lower than for many years past. When, 

 y , j^ however, we realize that the population has been increasing very 

 CI the Pro- rapidly, and, therefore, the local consumption increasing proportion- 

 duction of ately, it seems reasonable to believe that the number of cattle in 

 Cattle. t'^i^ state has not decreased to any great extent during the past year 



or two. 



"Prior to 1911, the large herds decreased very rapidly, but the 

 small farmer and the homesteader have been increasing their holdings in live stock. 

 There has been an enormous influx of settlers and it is seldom that they are found 

 without some stock. They are increasing the number as fast as their financial 

 condition and land holdings will allow. It is the small ranchman with from ten to 

 a hundred head of cattle who is going to increase the cattle census of the state. 



"One need only turn to the shipments from Montana to find that the small 

 rancher is increasing his herd. The Chicago receipts of calves shipped from Mon- 

 tana in 1911 was practically five thousand head: in 1912 it was only one thousand 



head. This shows that the calves are being allowed to mature, and 

 rpt were we able to get exact figures on heifers and young cows shipped it 



would be found that there is the same proportion of decrease; there- 

 Slaughter fore, Montana is today only exporting her mature cattle and saving 

 of Calves her breeding stock. This is very natural when we consider the pros- 

 Has About P^f'ti^'e prices of beef and at the same time consider the possibility 

 ■p, , J of Montana's supporting many more cattle than she has at present. 



Urnaeu. "Montana has long been known as a cattle state. This state has 



always been a large factor in the western beef supply. The stock- 

 growers have taken advantage of the possibilities of stock-raising as they appeared, 



— Montana worries less about railroad rates than it does about cars to ha%d the grain. 



