Cattle popuFrom 20,000 Cattle Production. Breeding herds are wintered and medium to good grade 2-year-old Herefords and Shorthorn steers are fed hay and limited quantities of grain during the winter. lation was estimated on January 1, 1935, at 90,719. to 30,000 cattle are fed out yearly, chiefly by California packers. Marketings. Heaviest movement occurs from November to March with peak in January. San Francisco Bay packers receive the greater portion of these cattle; a few go to Sacramento and to Los Angeles. Area 15.-Elco-Humboldt Producing and Grazing Area of Northeastern Nevada TH HIS is a high desert plateau, broken by numerous mountain ranges, with a desert plateing numerous mountain includes the best pasturing section of the State, consisting largely of national forests. Annual precipitation is 10 to 15 inches. Winters are cold, and summers, dry and warm. Feed crops consist almost entirely of grass and wild hay produced in the river valleys. The Humboldt River Valley produces most of this feed. Cattle Production. This is the principal cattle area of the State. Medium to good quality Herefords and Shorthorns are produced. About 50 percent are marketed as grass-fat, 2- and 3-year-old steers with the balance feeders. Cattle population was estimated on January 1, 1935, at 168,697 head. Very little feeding is carried on. Marketings.-Heaviest marketings occur during September and October. Grass-fat steers move to San Francisco, and feeders, to feeding grounds in western Nevada and California. During seasons of poor feed conditions in California, a limited number of feeders move to the Corn Belt. Area 15a.-Southwestern Idaho Desert Range Producing Area This high desert plain consists largely of public domain and is utilized as a winter and early spring range. Altitude varies from 2,000 feet along the Snake River to 7,000 feet in the Silver Mountains. Annual rainfall is under 10 inches. Feed-crop production is limited to the irrigated sections along the Snake River in the north. Principal crops include alfalfa, some sugar beets, and a limited amount of small grain. Cattle Production consists of breeding herds. Marketings consist of 2- and 3-year-old steers averaging 950 to 1,150 pounds. Over 50 percent are feeders. Cattle population was estimated at 35,666 head on January 1, 1935. A few cattle are fed on hay and beet pulp in the Snake River Valley each winter, medi are i e pop 20 ber t "eceiv and Area tain It of ers st he Marketings.—Grass-fat and winter-fed cattle move to Portland and San Francisco, and feeders to Idaho and California feeding and grazing sections. Area 16.-Eureka-White Pine Producing Area of HIGH semidesert plateau with altitude ranging from 6,000 to Annual precipitation averages from 10 to 15 inches. Winters are cold; summers dry and warm. Only small quantities of wild hay are produced in the river valleys, and feeding is almost entirely dependent upon the open range. Cattle Production consists of breeding herds of medium-quality Herefords. Cattle are marketed as yearling and 2-year-old feeders. Cattle population has been sharply reduced by droughts in recent years. On January 1, 1935, cattle numbers were estimated at 65,107 head. No feeding is carried on. Marketings are heaviest during the period from September to November. Most of the cattle move to California grazing and feeding areas. Area 17.-Western Idaho Producing and Feeding Areas IN N this region are a number of river valleys which converge into the Snake River. Altitude averages from 2,000 to 2,500 feet. Annual precipitation is light, 10 inches or less, coming mostly during the fall and winter months. Feed-crop production is limited to irrigated areas and consists of alfalfa with some sugar beets and small grain. Cattle Production. Both feeding and producing are carried on. There are also a few farm herds. It is the principal dairy section of the State. Range cattle produced outside of irrigated sections are wintered in these valleys. On January 1, 1935, cattle population was estimated at 114,641 head, about 30 percent of which were dairy cattle. Cattle marketings consist of 2- and 3-year-old Hereford steers, about 50 percent in feeder flesh. Area 17a.-Payette-Weiser-Caldwell Feeding Area From 10,000 to 15,000 steers are fed out on hay each winter in these irrigated sections. Marketings from Areas 17 and 17a.-Heaviest marketings of hay-fed and early-grass cattle occur from January to May; those of grass-fat cattle and feeders from October to December. Portland, Seattle, Tacoma, and Spokane are the principal markets for fat cattle; feeders go to local feeding areas near Caldwell, Weiser, and Payette. Area 18.-Central Mountain Range--Summer Grazing Area of Central Idaho TH HIS high plateau and high mountain range area with altitude ranging from 4,000 to 8,000 feet is cut through by many narrow river valleys. Precipitation varies from 10 to 40 inches, coming mostly as snow in the high mountains. National forests cover a large acreage which provides excellent summer grazing range. Feed-crop production is limited to some wild hay and alfalfa produced in the river valleys. Cattle Production. Most of the cattle produced are medium grade 2- and 3-year-old Hereford and Shorthorn steers, about 50 percent in feeder flesh. Cattle population was estimated on January 1, 1935, at 124,631 head. No feeding is carried on; the chief activities are range production and grazing. Figure 7 shows a typical cattle scene in the Payette National Forest of Central Idaho. months. Marketings.-September and October are the principal marketing Grass-fat steers are marketed to California and Portland with some in the northern part to Spokane and Seattle. Feeders are moved into southern and western Idaho feeding sections and California. F Area 19.-Western Montana Producing and Grazing Area OOTHILLS and mountain ranges consisting of a high percentage of national forest, provide a well-balanced spring, summer, and early fall range and sufficient hay and feed is produced in the river valleys to carry breeding stock through the winter. Altitude ranges from 4,000 to 7,500 feet and precipitation varies from 10 to 30 inches depending upon elevation. Hay and some small grains are the principal feed crops. Cattle Production consists of range breeding herds of good-quality Herefords. About 40 percent of those marketed are grass-fat steers. Cattle population on January 1, 1935, was estimated at 396,935 head. Marketings.-The period from August to December is that of heaviest marketings. Grass-fat cattle west of the Continental Divide move to Spokane, Seattle, Tacoma, and Portland; and feeders to Corn Belt markets of St. Paul and Chicago. Area 19a.-Missoula Feeding Area of Western Montana This is a small level basin surrounded by high mountains, with altitude about 4,000 feet. Precipitation varies from 10 to 15 inches. Alfalfa and sugar beets are the principal feed crops. WESTERN CATTLE AND SHEEP AREAS FIGURE 7.-CATTLE GRAZING ON THE PAYETTE NATIONAL FOREST Both feeder and grass-fat Hereford and Shorthorn steers are produced in this area. Cattle Production.-From 4,000 to 5,000 cattle, mostly 2- and 3-year-old steers averaging 1,200 to 1,400 pounds, are fed out each winter on alfalfa and beet pulp. Marketings are heaviest from December to February. Spokane, Seattle, and Tacoma are the principal markets. Area 19b.-Big Hole Basin Feeding Area of Western Montana This is a high basin about 30 miles long and 15 to 20 miles wide. Altitude ranges from 6,500 to 7,500 feet. About 100,000 acres are irrigated. Principal feed crops include wild and tame hay. Cattle Production.-From 10,000 to 12,000 aged steers are fed hay and cottonseed cake each winter. Marketings are heaviest from March to May. Los Angeles, Ogden, Denver, Portland, and San Francisco are the principal markets receiving shipments. L Area 20.-Southeastern Idaho Producing and Feeding Areas HIS is a high plain and high mountain region with altitude precipitation varies ranging from 4,000 to 8,000 feet. Annual from 10 to 25 inches. Summers are dry and winters long and cold with heavy snowfall. Principal feed crops include alfalfa and wild hay, sugar beets and wheat produced in the irrigated valleys and on the lower plains. Cattle Production consists of breeding herds and feeders shipped in from western Wyoming and from northern Utah. Medium and good grade 2- and 3-year-old Hereford steers, about 50 percent in feeder flesh, are produced. Average weight for yearling steers is 600 pounds, 2-year olds 950 pounds, and 3-year olds 1,150 to 1,200 pounds. Cattle population was estimated on January 1, 1935, at 195,012. Area 20a.-Rexburg-Idaho Falls Feeding Area From 5,000 to 12,000 hay- and beet-fed steers are fed in the Rexburg-Idaho Falls area (20a) each fall and winter. Marketings From Areas 20 and 20a.-Heaviest marketings largely of grass-fat steers are from September to November; of winterfed steers, from December to March. Grass-fat cattle move to Ogden and Salt Lake City, with feeders to the Pocatello-RexburgIdaho Falls feeding grounds. Many of the Ogden and Salt Lake City shipments move west to California markets or packers. Area 21.-Twin Falls-Rupert Feeding Area of HIS area comprises the most productive irrigated section of Idaho. It is located in the Snake River Valley with an altitude of about 2,500 feet. Rainfall is light, under 10 inches, mostly coming as snow during the winter. Principal feed crops are alfalfa, sugar beets, and wheat. Cattle Production.-Farm as well as ranch herds produce mostly 2- and 3-year-old Herefords. Feeders are fed out on sugar-beet pulp and alfalfa during the winter while breeding herds are wintered through largely on alfalfa. Cattle popu From 10,000 to 15,000 cattle, mostly 2- and 3-year-old Hereford steers, are fed out on alfalfa and beet pulp each winter. lation in the area on January 1, 1935, was estimated at 90,519 head. Marketings are heaviest from January to April with some movement as early as late November. Portland, Seattle, and California packers receive most of the cattle by purchasing direct. T Area 22.-Northern Utah Feeding Valleys HESE small irrigated valleys are located along the Bear, Cache, Ogden, and Weber Rivers of northern Utah and southeastern Idaho. Altitude averages 4,000 feet or more. Climate is cold with fairly heavy snows in winter and annual precipitation averages about 15 to 20 inches in the valleys and up to 30 inches in the high mountains. Feed-crop production consists of alfalfa, sugar beets, and some wheat and barley. |