Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1877-07-19
LIVE STOCK.
sHoBTEORNs.

fhO ttSf1 ~
we Lear constant predictions that Short
horns are louud to decline heavily, and
" that they are actually worth no more
than their milk, or so much per pound for
beef, and all that is given for them in eX-
cess Of what they are worth for that par
pose, is merely fancy"
We have heard this kline OF talk for the
last five and twenty years, but thoughtful
men conversant with business, and who can
readily discern when anything is on 81 firm
basis, have almost unanimously come to The
conclusion that Shorthorn breeding is on
such u sound and firm footing that it cam
not be shaken by such language or express
ions as that quoted above The charge OF
their worthlessness has been on the lips Of
hundreds for the last fifty years, but Short
horns have outlived a large majority of their
detractors, and to-day feed and adorn the
green pastures of every cline. They have
moved hand ia hand with the march Of civ
~iliZation and advancement OF agriculture,
gradually overcoming prejudice and estab-
fishing their merits as the great meat pro-
ducers of the world. Wherever they have
been introduced there has been an improve
ment in the cattle stock.
Indeed the Shorthorn is so superiorto any
other tribe of cattle, that the quality of the
stock of any portion of country will be
found to correspond with their breeding,
declining in proportion as they reccde from
acknowledged thoroughbred Shorthorn.
There is no way to keep up the standard OF
beef without the constant Infusion and use
of Shorthorn blood, and this can only be
kept pure by breeders maintaining the
highest standard of purity and excellence.
1t is certain that for years to cCme there
will be an increased demand for improved
Shortlorns. When you come to notice the
recent decline in prices so glibly quoted by
their enemies, you will find that Sl.orthorns
have declined less ia price than land, horses,
grain or any other Kind OF property or pro-
duce. Some may ask how we account for
this? The answer is very simple and plain.
While there are such wide and extensive
tracts of land yearly opening, with inditfcr-
cnt cattle needing Improvement, Shortlorns
will continue to command, if no other cause
NAiSt Aesll klsio Il ~ 49, 81
dull times. Of course, fancy prices viii not
be maintained. But this is no evidence
that the cattle do not possess merit.
The rearing and breeding of Shorthorns
in America has constantly increased within
the last ten or fifteen years, until to-day the
civilized world is drawing on our supplies.
With our vast grazing and rich lands, and
with our great natural advantage ofsoil and
climate, we rival o,ir noble mother England
in the production Of Shortho,ns.
The great advantage OF these cattle over
any other variety, is their early maturity.
AT two years old their beef is better mar
b!eized and equal in quality to any other
variety of three Or four years old. This of
itself is sufficient to recommend them to
farmers, enabling them to get their stock to
market earlier aud save a years feeding and
grazing. e
The main and leading principles in breed
ing should be so select the sire and dam OF
good form, sound constitution, free from he
reditary diseares and blemislles. and in the
vigor of lite. We arc strong advocates for
in-and-in breeding. 10 fix the type Of any
breed it is necessary to breed m-and-i in, by
which we mean the pairing of relations
within the degree of second cousins, twice
or more succession. We would avoid i'll
cestous breeding. the pairing of father and
daughter, mother and son, brother and sis
ter. Our most successful breeders of cattle
and horses have bred in-and-in, twice in and
once out, has been the general rule, and in