Dec. 1896.] CATTLE-KATSING INDUSTRY IN THE UNITED STATES. 259 



nearly 4,000,000. In the great breeding State of Texas the 

 decrease is from 7,000,000 to 5,500,000. Indiana has lost about 

 a fifth, Illinois over one-sixth. The only one of these States 

 showing a slight increase is Montana, where ranching is in full 

 vigour ; while the corn-growing and " feeding " States, such as 

 Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska, all show some decrease. 



Reviewing the past few years' history of the cattle industry, 

 Mr. O'Beirne says that it is difficult to avoid the conclusion that 

 what has been mainly responsible for the decrease in the numbers 

 of cattle is the reduction in the profits of cattle -raising. In the 

 five years preceding 1885 prices were high, and the ranching 

 business, with its tempting profits, had a wide extension, the 

 total number of cattle increasing from 35,000,000 to 49,000,000. 

 During the five following years, prices of all classes of cattle fell 

 by as much as 35 per cent., partly from causes affecting the 

 price of commodities in general, but chiefly as the result of the 

 excessive supplies of cattle thrown on the market with the rapid 

 development of ranching. At the same time the ranching area 

 was rapidly diminishing, and ranching was being replaced by 

 more expensive and less profitable methods of cattle -raising. A 

 corresponding change followed in the results shown by the 

 industry, although not until some years later. The number of 

 cattle continued to increase, although slowly, until 1892 ; but 

 since then low prices and small profits have had their effect in 

 a rapid and continuous diminution of the stock. 



In further support of this conclusion, Mr. O'Beirne brings 

 f orward several estimates of the cost of raising and fattening 

 steers in various States, the net result of which is to show that 

 in order to recover the outlay expended on the animals, the 

 price obtained must be such as is only secured in the case of 

 animals of the highest class at Chicago. In other words, that 

 the business of fattening cattle for the butcher yields a profit 

 under specially favourable conditions, and notably where the 

 fattener grows his own feed ; but that a large proportion of the 

 feeding is, at present prices, necessarily carried on at a loss. 



In view of the decreasing supply of cattle for meat, and of 

 the steadily increasing demand for these animals, the question 

 of the future capability of meeting this demand presents itself 

 for consideration. Mr. O'Beirne estimates that the yearly con- 

 sumption of beef by the States is equivalent to over 7,500,000 

 head of cattle. Adding to this the 300,000 head exported alive, 

 the export of fresh beef representing another 300,000 head, and 

 of salt and canned beef representing 200,000, the total number 

 of cattle which the United States are annually called upon to 

 slaughter would appear to amount to over 8,300,000 head. To 

 meet this demand there are 32,000,000 " oxen and other cattle.'* 

 Deducting from the total the number which must be set apart 

 as breeding cows, or on account of losses from disease and 

 climatic and other causes, and assuming that the average age 

 of killing is only three years, Mr. O'Beirne concludes that not 

 more than one fourth of the number, at the outside, are 

 annually available for the butcher, and consequently that the 



