The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-03-27
OUR BEEF SUPPLY.
The Great Cattle Basfness Of Texas, sIIi-
noIz. Missouri a. q Oiher States.

n0is, Missouri a. q Oiher States.
That Texas is one Of the largest cattle.
producing quarters of the civilized world
none who have seen her almost countless
herds can deny; not even when the cat
tie produce OF Texas shall be compared
with the vast herds that roam tie steppes
of Russia or those that wander on the
great stations of Australia. Still, bounds
less as the production Of best may appear
to be in Texas, the quality is so indifer>
ert that other states of the union, though
numerically tar interior, are, in point OF
wealth derived from cattle growing,
greatly in advance of Texas. Probably
the cattle interests of the state of Hi
nois represent the largest capital and the
richest revenues derived from this branch
of industry. While other states have
certain seasons of the year during which
their trade in cattle is active, Illinois
from the LIST of January to the 3lst OF
December ships from her broad prsiries
and from her numerous feeding farms.
Not alone is.the feeding interest closely
and diligently attended to in Illinois,
but the rearing of calves is steadily car
ried on. Corn-fed steers are always to
be found on the great cattle markets of
the state, and such herds invariably COM
mand the highest prices. and when sold
on net weight obtain the most liberal al.
lowance. Kentucky as beef producing
region can justly lay claim to some of
the very finest and best bred herds that
can be found she might, without fear,
challenge the British Isles and Canada
for high bred stock, from whence are
drawn those animals purchased for the
purpose OF improving the blood OF the
herds of the western states and territOrs
les. During the summer months, when
the pastures are rich in blue grass, the
herds of Kentucky are at large, and from
the early days of August up to the end
of October or the middle of November,
should the weather continue mild, the
grass>fed herds of Kentucky arrive on
the eastern markets. Their beef is very
wholesome, being light, nutritious and
full of juice, most suited for invalids and
children. The carcasses do not inwardly
contain TIE most proportion of fat as do
those of beeyes cornsfed; still the adipose
matter is generally spread throughout
the muscle, and the color snd favor of
Kentucky beef are excellent. Seine few
feeders there are in kentucky who use
corn, and who ship off their herds all
through the winter and spring. Ohio as
as a cattle state ranks next to Kentucky,
save that she can not boast of as much
excellence of blood as her sister state en-
joys.
In Ohio, where the blue grass fourishes,
the herds are psstured ; while in other
sections of the state corn feeding is the
rule. Ohio steers come to market most
freely from the 1st OF August to the end
of February. Their quality is go ID,
sometimes even superior. Where the
blue grass hourishes in Virginia the
practice observed is the same as in the
states heretofore named, save that less
corn is fed than in OHIO, and that in the
districts the cattle of Vir-
ginia are small and apt to be scrubby.
Virginia cattle are shipped for the east
all through the year, and are in prime
condition occasionally rather than in
variably. Missouri is rapidly becoming
a CREST cattle center. About mid-winter
Missouri steers are at their best. At
other seasons Of the year the herds from
Missouri are coarse and light in flesh.
Toward the end of the summer is the
time of the heaviest run of grass fed
Missouri csttle. The quality is inferior
and the carcasses dress to slight advan
tage. The great markets of New York
city and that at Brighton, close to Boss
ton, are supplied from Albany and Phil
adelphis, as the two nearest points for
rest and feed and water for the herds
arriving from the west. Deposit is
great resting station on the Erie rail
road. The western markets for east
bound herds are East St. Louis and
Chicago, both in Illinois. Cincinnati and
Pittsburg are also great cattle points of
union. To these places resort the eastern
and buy of the dealers or
owners, as the case may be, the herds
they need for their eastern trade. The
great carrying lines OF this country are
the New York Central, the Pennsylvania
Central and the Baltimore and Ohio,
being fed by the roads that diverge from
Kansas City, from East st. Louis, from
Chicago and from Cincinnati.
Another feature of the cattle trade is
the fattenipg of cattle on brewers slop.
Bulls condemned to die are thus fat
tened also dry COWS in small numbers, |
but in great numbers and with much |
profit are the lean CRASHED steers of
Texas converted into fat, heavy beeves. |
When the grass withers up on the prai,
RES OF Texas the herds must go north in
,earch of pasture or be shipped for sale.
The routine of the Texas cattle trade is
his: In July and August the herds are