Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1879-07-03
OUR STOCK INTERESrS.

LOU" SuCSCCuihS ycsHs cApciicIicc anu
observation demonstrate more forcibly to
the stock raisers Of Montana the impor-
lance and necessity Of giving the most
careful attention to the Improvement of
every description of stock kept upon the
nutritious and extensive stock ranges of
the Territory. In former years, when
there was scarcely any established market
or prices for anything produced by the
farmer or stock raiser, quality or grade
was seldom taken into consideration by
either producer or purchaser, whether it
happened to be bushel OF oats, a sack Of
flour. four-year-old steer or a brood mare
The article or animal was disposed of, if a
purchaser was found, by name or title with
little reference to grade or quality. Then.
we had no narket worthy of name If a
farmer produced wheat he was compelled
to haul it to some distant mill, get it
ground on shares, furnish sacks tor his
portion OF the flour, transport it to some
mining camp in the Territory aM sell it
for what he could get. Beef was beet.
whether it was wild. lank. lony-horned
four-year-old Texas steer, or the quiet,
lleavy-sct, square-built, short-horncd Dur
ham. A similar condition Of things pre-
vailed in regard to stock cattle and in some
measure, also, in regard to hoises and
sheep.
OF late rears, how ever, everything con-
nected with these various branches of in
dustry has been undergoing gradual
changes until, today, as we look around.
we can see almost an entire revolution in
our markets, SO far at least as relates to
the conditions of buying and selling. There
is little doubt but Il large number Of our
wide-awake and most entcrprisiHg..stock-
men fully comprehend the changes which
have been and are now taking place. and
are, as rapidly as circumstances will per-
nit. preparing thems elves to take advant-
age OF those changes by grading--up and
improving their herds. There are others.
however, who appear to pay no attention
whatever to the subject, bat run along in
the old grooves Of the past, raising. inferior
and scr'bby stock, and selling them when
ready for market, for just what they will
bring, and which-.simply means they. are.
compelled to sell inferior stock tor interior
prices. Now, there is no Disgusting the
fact that ''blOod will tell'' whether in stock
yards, the dairy corrds or on the extern
ST. stock ranges of our numerous valleys
and countless foothills. A purchaser who
understands his business can not avoid dis
eliminating. very naturally, in favor of
graded or Thoroughbred stock. It has lust
come to this point in Montana, and. there
Is no use in attempting to dodge establish
ed facts.
We do not pretend to know how general
or extensive the opposition. to improve
ment of their cattle herds, may exist among
stockmcn, but we regret to say that it does
exist to some extent. We have heard stock
men remark that they had just as good
bulls and steers among their common stock
as Others who had expended large amounts
OF money for so-called blooded or thor
Oughbred bulls could show in theirs: and
yet these same men apparently close their
eyes to the fact that the latter are realizing
better prices and finding much reader
sales for every head of stock they sell than
could possibly be realized for the best COM
mon stock to be found on any OF the ranges
Of Montana.
Facts are stubborn things" and no per- !
son through prejudice or carelessness
should stand SO much in his own light and
operate so adversely to his own interests
as to disregard the actual condition OF
things. Here, as elsewhere, it costs no
more to raise good animal than a s.scrub. y
be it horse, steer or sheep: while the de-
nand and selling price is decidedly in favor
At tina wall. brad animal in al,,,nst ArA.u IN.
VIII pay to improve it. The expense neces-
AIRY to DO this is quite small in comparison
o the benefit to be derived from it. There
re several parties in the Territory now
making speciality of raising thorouol,.
red and graded stock, so it is no lon1ar
eccssary, when parties need few head
incur great expense by sending abroad ,
Dr. animals necessary to make fair start ,
Inc improvement of their fiocks and ;
erds.