The largest increase in both dairy cattle and milk production between 

 1941 and 1944 occurred in the East Central Region — 12 percent and 8 

 percent, respectively. The Southern Region came next, with dairy cattle 

 up about 11 percent and milk production up about 4 percent. Smaller 

 changes in both numbers and milk output occurred in the North Central 

 and Western Regions. In the Northeast Region dairy cattle numbers 

 increased only about 2 percent and milk production decreased slightly 

 between 1941 and 1944. 



The Januar3 r 1, 1945, numbers of dairy cows indicated a slight increase 

 over 1944 numbers. It is expected that this increase will be reflected 

 in 1945 milk production. 



OTHER CATTLE 



The number of other cattle in the United States increased nearly 19 

 percent between January 1, 1941, and January 1, 1944. Numerically the 

 increase was 8.7 million head. 



In the Corn Belt, where the number of cattle had been rising since 

 1938, the increase during 1943 alone was over a million head. This, 

 increase tended to cut down the demand in the Corn Belt and in areas of 

 Plains States adjacent to the Corn Belt for feeder cattle from the range 

 areas. 



In the Great Plains States, including North Dakota, South Dakota, 

 Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, where the cattle cycle is most 

 pronounced, the number of other cattle on farms and ranches about 

 equals the peak carrying capacit.y of range and pasture under the most 

 favorable grazing conditions. The increase in that area was about 24 

 percent between January 1, 1941, and January 1, 1944. Numerically, it 

 was from 14.4 million to 17.8 million head. 



Other cattle numbers increased over the 3-year period in every State 

 except Maine. During this period the greatest relative increase, about 

 45 percent, was in South Dakota. Montana, up 43 percent, was second 

 and North Dakota, up 42 percent, was third. 



A 2-percent decrease occurred in numbers of cattle other than dairy 

 cows during 1944, as is evident in the January 1, 1945, number of 

 53,975,000. However, South Dakota and North Dakota continued to 

 increase other cattle numbers to 55.7 percent and 47.8 percent, respec- 

 tively, above 1941 numbers. 



Throughout the South, and generally east of the Mississippi River, 

 cattle have increased to record numbers in nearly every State. 



POULTRY 



Production of the three principal classes of poultry — hens and pullets, 

 commercial broilers, and turkeys — increased markedly from 1941 through 

 1943. This was true of egg production as well. A considerable decrease 

 occurred during 1944 in chicken and broiler numbers, but the number of 

 turkeys has increased. 



HENS AND PULLETS, AND EGG PRODUCTION 



During the first 5 months of 1944, about 35 percent more hens and 

 pullets and about 44 percent more eggs were produced than during the 

 first 5 months of 1941. The mild winter, together with better care and 

 management of flocks, caused hens and pullets to lay at an unprecedented 

 rate. Total production of 2.5 billion dozen eggs during this flush season 

 taxed marketing and storage facilities and the Government had trouble 

 to support farm egg prices at the announced minimums. 



