Rocky Mountain husbandman., 1878-03-28

! head of which will pay to the country at
least thirty times the amount in taxes as a
| scrub will. Is it not strange that good rea-
sons were found for ordering scrub stations
out of the way, while scrub bulls are per-
mitted to occupy the first possession in the
cattle herds. Our light horned Durham
bulls get whipped almost invariably by the
heavy horned scrubs. fla proprietor tries
to protect his herd from the damage done
by these animals by driving back the APP
proach of inferior cattle, he is subject to
prosecution for molesting another mans
property. What then shall we do? [ can't
see that we can do anything but appeal to
the proper authorities for protection. Why
not protect the Improvement of cattle as
well as horses? The cattle are of more val
tie to Montana than any other kind of stock.
Perhaps some one will say: 1.-The people
of Montana are too poor to buy fine cattle,
even halfbrced Durham" What too
poor when a man can buy good half
breed Durham yearling bull for the price Of
TWO common steers. We will remain poor
a great deal longer if we don't hurry up
and improve our cattle in quality. The
main drawback is that too many are hesi-
tating to buy an animal of superior breed
when compelled to turn him among a lot OF
" snales," as our friend called them.
Mr.. Hunter, our main Eastern beef ship
per- says that Montana has lost in quality
OF beef for the last few years, and especially
in Gallatin and Madison counties. We felt
the effect of it last summer. The shorthorn
cattle first imported to Montana are getting
old, and in many localities are two closely
related. We all know that in Montana we
can improve any breed of cattle, but the fire.
quent renewal Of bloods is of first impor-
tance for the Improvement.
The English breeders come to America
and purchase Shorthorns to improve their
cattle. The Americans 60 to England for
the same purpose. The Shorthorn cattle
are recognized the world over for their su-
periority to any other breed. 1t would be
an absur(llty for us here in Montana to still
argue the reduction of price on these cattle,
and attempt to place them in competition
with scrubs. We can be very easily con-
vnced of such an error if we will but read
of sales made in the United States and else
where, as reported in live stock journals or
papers. When we read reports of
sales where an entire herd is sold for two
hundred to five hundred dollars all around
of others where over one thousond dol
lars each was obtained for an entire herd
and when one animal commands from five
to twenty thousand dollars, such as the six
head that were sold at the New York sale
two years ago for $l5S, 200, and the tenth
Duchess of Airdrie that through her progeny
brought to her proprietor $71 900 in gold,
at eight years OF age, and six females LETT ];
we are left to imagine that no one will intro
duce such valuable cattle into Montana for !
our benefit unless we change our minds and
become willing to appreciate their value.
The urgent necessity for the improve
ment of our stock calls for the enactment of |
a bull-law. Why do our stock-growers use
their influence against it? I will tell you.
It is because they base their calculations on
numbers and not on quality. And again,
they know that they have everything to
gain and nothing to lose by the present sys-
tenn, which allows their herds to mix with |
those OF superior quality. Such /; practice
cannot last always; we are sure to be the
losers by it in the end.
-E-0-a---
MONTANA THoRCUGHBRED SALES.
Mr.. Alex, Metzel, OF York ranch, upper
Ruby valley, made the following sales last