Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1879-09-04
The Avant Courier,
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1879



Any one who visits the leading catt
markets Of this country will hardly fail t
n"ti'e the wide difference between the be.
and meanest stock offered for sale. Til
quantity of low grade cattle which find
its way to market every year is enormous
and is out OF all reasonable proportion +
the better grades. Leaving Texas AM
similar stock out of the account, is it not
little strange that the number Of inferio
light cattle which may be seen at any tim,
in the stock yards here and elsewhere is s,
Large: And where is the profit to the mel
who raise it: Think of raising a steer t.
four years old. for which twenty-five OF
Thirty dollars only can be obtained; ant
from this amount is often deducted freight
commission and feed bills. Now it is safe
TO assume that no effort has been made to
improve this class of stock. New or fresh
blood ofbetter quality has not been thought
of, or if SO, it is more than likely that, in
The plentitude of wisdom with which some
of those who raise such stock think them
selves possessed, the idea has been dismiss
cd with the contempt Which generally char
acterizcs scli-complacent ignorance. The
probability is that. as rule, the best ami
mails have been sold from the farms of this
class of men, and only the poorest kept to
breed from. 1t is not eNaSgeration to say
That instances are not rare where the bulls
used have been calves that the butchers
would not have at any price, and too weak
and poor, from lack Of vitality on one
hand, and starvation on the other, to en-
durc castration until their second or third
year. And right here, it is in point to i'm
press upon all who raise live stock of anv
kind, the importance Of generous feeding
for young stock. 1t should be kept grow
ing all the time. Growth lost in the early
stages of live stock is expensive. 1t costs
much more in the outcome in loss of time
and quantity of feed, to make the animals
marketable. The most money is realized
from judicious care in raising stock.
The first thing necessary in the improve
nient Of scrub stock is to get fresh blood
of an improved breed 1t has been said
with point and truth that a mean, inferior
bull calf ought never to be allowed to live
longer than ak weeks, rs it uW aerer make
a desirable steer for any purpose yet discor-
cred. 1t is supreme folly to permit an ami
mai OF this class TO propagate its Kind, and
in this age no farmer with thmblettll of
brains will permit snoh a thing. The
block to many hitherto in the
way OF improvement has been the cost of
pure-bred animals. At any time this has
hardly been valid objection to making an
effort in the right direction, for there is
hardly any neighborhood in any except ,
the newest States, where the farmers could /.
not pool their means either in buying or
hiring purc-bred animal for breeding pur-
poses. But now the price of such stock |.
has shaded off until there is no excuse for
breeding fom scrubs or grades. AT pub :. =
lie or private sale. animals can be bought :,
It very reasonable prices, which possess
he qualities so necessary and desirable in y
he improvement of the common cattle of
he country, and the farmer who neglects :.
o avail himself Of the opportunities now !.
20 numerous and within easy reach, stands ),
II his own light. =
The increasing demand for American =
neat abroad gives this subject additional +"
Importance. The best cattle pay the best :.
II any event and under all circumstances.
nd in this important and growing indus
ry OF supplying a foreign demand, it is
MY the very best that will bear the cost .
# transportation.