CHAPTER III 



BEEF PRODUCERS OF THE WEST 



Beef cattle are found in considerable numbers in every 

 state of the Union and in every country on the globe. In 

 the United States they are most abundant in the Missis- 

 sippi Valley and on the eastern slope of the Rocky Moun- 

 tains. There are not as many cattle to a square mile in 

 the West as in the central states, but more per capita of 

 population, so that a very large proportion of the people 

 of the West are concerned with the production of cattle. 

 It must also be remembered that the West produces more 

 cattle than it consumes and must market its surplus in 

 the East. Both beef and dairy cattle are found in the 

 West, but the former are far the more numerous. The 

 dairy cattle are raised on the tillable farms while the beef 

 cattle are on the ranges and big pastures. In this book 

 we shall deal exclusively with the beef industry. 



We will not burden our readers with a mass of figures 

 as to beef production, since up-to-date statistics may be 

 obtained from the census reports, the Monthly Crop 

 Report, and from the Yearbooks of the United States 

 Department of Agriculture. It should be noted, however, 

 that the number of cattle declined materially from 1900 

 to 1910, until by the latter year there was a shortage of 

 cattle. Prices had been low but with the shortage that 

 developed prices went up. With better prices every effort 

 was made to increase the beef herds, until at the present 



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