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Show Figures Indicate ManyMore Cattle Los Angeles, Morch 9, 1936 cattle population in the south. It is more likely that there will be constantly decreasing numbers in that section in that "cotton farmers" are not livestock-minded. But cattlemen should give heed to the increased number of people peo-ple who are handling livestock. The census report shows that 80.5 per cent of the farmers reporting are now handling cattle against 76.4 per cent in 1930. This means that more small farms are handling hand-ling cattle, giving the animals more personal attention fhan is possible on larger ranches. Out of this, it must be surmised, will be larger percentage calf crops and probably more attention to improved im-proved quality and good breeding. The report also indicates a substantial sub-stantial increase in cows and heifers of breeding age. This means that the increased cattle population, as against 1930, is capable of producing more animals. ani-mals. Besides, it must be reckoned reckon-ed that the change in beef production pro-duction from marketing of animals Recently published government estimates on the U. S. beef cattle population offer opportunity for interesting study on the part of cattlemen. These livestock estimates esti-mates indicate that we have considerably con-siderably more cattle in the country than in 1930, although fewer than in 1934 previous to the severe drouth and government drouth relief buying. That government crop adjustment adjust-ment activities have had a decided de-cided effect upon geographical changes in cattle population is apparent ap-parent from the U. S. Census bureau reports. The change from cotton acreage to pastures undoubtedly un-doubtedly accounts for the huge increase in cattle population in Gulf and southeastern states. It is no secret that cattle have not done too well in those areas and it is a safe guess that cattlemen need not fear further increases in at five years of age and over to an average of two to three years means quicker turnover and from proportionately the same cattle population. Better breeding through the use of well bred bulls has resulted in the two-year-old steer of today weighing practically practical-ly as much as the four-year-old steer did a generation ago. Beef type animals are maturing earlier, go to market at younger ages. The widespread adoption of supplemental feeding and dry lot feeding in the range states also means a greater tonnage of beef should there be no increase in cattle population. Another factor which may mean increased beef production is the fact that the 1934 government drouth relief campaign rid thou.-ands of range herds of cull and "boarder" cows. Thus we should have a proportionately propor-tionately larger calf crop. |