124 THE WORLD'S MEAT FUTURE 



The live stock indiistiy of the United States responded to 

 the appeal of President Wilson, the Food Administration, and 

 the Department of Agriculture for increased production. At 

 present there are amj)le supplies of meat food animals in the 

 tjnited States to take care of all probable demands from our 

 allies, to supply our army and navy generously, and for a normal 

 domestic consumption. This supply has been produced under 

 exceedingly adverse conditions as to labour, cost of animal 

 feeds, &c. The result is a great credit to all those engaged in 

 the live stock business. 



More and more, as the war progresses, do the greater produc- 

 tion of live stock and the conservation of meat become pressing 

 necessities. While there has been a numerical increase in livestock 

 in the United States in 1917, the tendency of farmers to ship their 

 cattle and hogs before they are properly finished, due to 

 advanced cost of feed and eagerness to get high market prices, 

 has brought about a decreased poundage per animal. 



The records, borne out by those of the industry in general, 

 show a loss of weight of approximately 10 per cent, in 1917 as 

 compared with 1916. This offsets the increase in numl)ers. 



During 1917 Armour & Company paid to livestock producers 

 in the United States alone the sum of 341,748,275 dollai's 

 (£68,348,655) for cattle, hogs and sheep, or 109,167,133 dollars 

 (£20,000,000) more than a similar poundage would have cost at 

 the 1915 scale of prices. This additional sum necessarily had 

 to be collected from consumers to be turned over to producers. 



Obviously, we must look first to the producer. For him the 

 Government has largely taken the speculation out of produc- 

 tion, and inasmuch as his gains are assured for years to come, 

 he can cnmlune patriotism with profit by increasing and 

 improving his herds. 



. He must breed for quality that will i")roduce maximum weight 

 in the shortest time. Every unused nook and corner of his 

 farm should grow feed for his aninmls. Surplus dairy calves 

 should be fed no longer than is necessary to bring them to the 

 veal stage, thus conserving feed, while beef ea-lves should be 

 saved and brought to earlist maturity. 



An excellent article by Mr. W. R. Goodwin was published 

 recently in the Shorthorn World on the "Improving Power 

 of the Shorthoi'u." This applies to all native stock everywhere. 



Says Mr. Goodwin : The student of beef cattle breeding will 

 conclude that the Shorthorn is not only the cosmopolitan breed, 

 but also the universal improver of beef stocks. This fact carries 



