SUMMARY 



1. INTRODUCTION. Seven corn-surplus states Ohio, Indiana, Illi- 

 nois, Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska embrace the corn belt, which is 

 the natural center of beef production. About one-third of the cattle of 

 the country other than milch cows are contained in the states named, 

 and their value is equal to about two-fifths of the total value of such 

 cattle in the United States. Page 5 



2. RAPID EVOLUTION OF THE INDUSTRY. Twenty to fifty years ago, 

 the corn belt as a whole was a combined breeding, grazing and fattening 

 ground for beef cattle, but now it is so generally devoted to corn raising 

 that little grazing land consequently few breeding cattle remain; and 

 a large proportion of the cattle fattened for market are purchased as 

 feeders from the West or elsewhere. The number of cattle other than 

 milch cows appears to be diminishing thruout the corn belt, and in some 

 typical districts is now no greater than it was forty years ago. Page 5 



3. INFLUENCE OF DAIRYING. Statistics of cattle in corn-belt states 

 indicate a proportion of milch cows amounting to about one-half of the 

 total cattle in the eastern section, one-fourth in Kansas and Nebraska, 

 and corresponding proportions in intervening states. Dairying has in- 

 creased enormously as a factor in the cattle industry. The introduction 

 of dairy cattle and indiscriminate breeding has deteriorated the quality 

 of beef cattle, and at the same time the actual number of cattle worthy 

 of the name of milch cows has increased but little. Relatively more 

 steers are found in the western than in the eastern portion of the corn 

 belt. Page 10 



4. FATTENING STEERS. Four-fifths to nine-tenths of the beef 

 cattle marketed from typical corn-belt localities are cattle that have 

 been purchased as stockers or feeders. The number of stockers and 

 feeders shipped to the country from Chicago and Missouri river markets 

 shows a considerable increase by decades. The fattening of cattle has 

 passed largely from the hands of general farmers to those of profes- 

 sional cattle feeders, and in some sections has been abandoned to a 

 considerable extent by the latter. Among the chief factors responsible 

 for this tendency are relatively high prices for grain compared with 

 those for fat cattle, increase in land values, extension of cattle feeding 

 operations in the West, increase in farm tenancy, and neglect of soil 

 fertility. Page 12 



5. THE OUTLOOK. The undeveloped state of beef-cattle produc- 

 tion in proportion to population and area justifies the expectation of an 

 ultimate extension and development of cattle raising and feeding. Corn- 

 fed beef cattle doubtless will continue in demand by a class of trade in 

 which the grass beef of the West can not compete. The grazing lands 

 of the West may be expected to furnish a partial supply df stockers and 

 feeders to the corn belt for many years to come; however, an increasing 



