Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-08-08
Improved Stock.

Improved Stock.
After all that has been said, and
the demonstrations as to the profits,
the people are slow to improve the
breed Of cattle. There are several
operating causes for this; but the
main and principle one is a want of
practical view Of the question.
And as we claim to have experience
enough not to be influenced by i'm
practicable visions, we call the at
tention of farmers to few practical
suggestions. The fancy stock raiser
expends much money, time and pa
thence in procuring the best samples
Of thoroughbred stock, and in car
ing for the same. He feeds with
the richest food, scours, curries,
blankets, and in every way pampers
his stock, and dollhouse specimens
tor the fairs and the market. He
asks fancy prices, but really no
more than pays him for his outlay
and trouble. OF this stock, thous-
ands have been bought and carried
to all parts Of the State for the last
twenty years. This is all right, and
is the only way the pioneer stock
can or will reach the various parts
of the country. But the great mass
of the farmers cannot pay the prices
asked for these animals. The ma
jority of stock raisers in Iowa do
not own over five COWS each, and
cannot buy a four hundred dollar
bull. But here is where the imprac-
ticable part comes in. Plain, prac-
teal neighbor H., who is not given
to gas or blowing, and who gives
all his stock the same fare, may
have a few full-blooded bulls and
heifers, though their names may not
be in the American herd book, and
would stand no chance with the
committee at agricultural fairs with
the dollhouse stock of the fancy
breeder, yet for all practical pur-
poses are equally as good. Still
Mr.. H. has to trim his bulls for the
reason that they would not sell for
any more than scrub calf, whilst
the blooded steer is worth at least
twenty-five dollars more at one year
of age than the scrub to raise for
beef. The people are determined
to have the sleek, soft-halred, blank
eted animal or none. In converse
ton, all admit the truth Of this posi-
ton, and still plod on in the old
way. How sadly does stock breed
er feel the force of this when he
starts ont to buy some choice steers
to feed, and which he hopes to make
bring the best price in the market.
If he gets ten good grade steers in
one hundred he's lucky. Ninety of
them, after all he can do with high
feeding and good care, have to be
sold at a medium between Texas
steers and good shipping stock, A
good grade steer, three years old,
and weighing sixteen hundred lbs,
is worth one hundred dollars in
market at this time. And common
stock steer, weighing eleven hun
dred pounds, is worth only forty
four dollars, yet the latter has cost
as much in feed and care as the
former.
And still to raise good grade
steers it is not absolutely necessary
to patronize a Wentworth or an AL
There is scarcely a town-
ship or neighborhood in all this
State but the keen knife has to be
applied to the finest stock, for the
want of an appreciative community.
We have no word to say against
the fancy stock raiser. They have
done a noble work for the country.
but we complain of the people not
taking advantage of the good seed
that has already been sown broad
cast through the length of the State.
good bull and COW would soon
stock township, if there was sufi-
cient care among farmers for their
own good, and confidence in their
Ponder over these
things, and SO order your future
that in five years from this
late the one million of cattle ship
ped from the State every year, shall
be worth $lOO,0OO,OoO instead of
s45, 100000. Thus would the peo-
pie of the State receive $55, 100000
additional profit with but small
advance in outlay, but by investing
a large stock of practical sense. If
q neighbor has some good stock,
study its antecedents, and probably
you will find they descended from
The best Stock Of the United States,
and need only a liberal supply of
oil cake, curry comb,
blankets, ETC., to make them equal
to the stock Of the professional
breeder.
There is another way by which
the whole State could be benefited
Immediately by the improvement of
stock. In every neighborhood let
hive, eight or ten men unite and pur-
chase pair (male and female) of
the best stock, by which means they
could all at once have halfblood
calves, and in few years work into
full blooded stock, and with slight
cost. And the farmers clubs and
oranges are the very best organiza-
tons through which this can be &C
complished. Should the oranges,
by their organization, effect only
this one object, they will have done
nobly, and will be we'll rewarded
for their outlay. BY it they can add
$40, 100000 annually to the income
Ct the State, clear profit, which can
never be done by raising wheat and
corn, and selling the grain to ship
pers.-State Register.
Making Money by Farming.