Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1880-06-19
BEEF, PORK AND MUTTON.

an article from the Kentucky Live Stock
Record, which is worthy of more than pass-
ing notice. 1t advises the growth OF beei'
mutton and pork as the most profitable
crops for farmers, and in this connection we
NAV reiterate what the Indicator has ire.
quen,ly advocated. viz. the Improvement
of the beef herds Of the almost hmitless
West. 1t is true there has been marked
increase in the demand for short horn bulls
by the leading ranchmen of the West, but
there are still large numbers Of cattle raisers
in Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska, Texas and
New Mexico who have not yet learned that
there is vastly more profit in high-grade
than in the common stock of their respec-
tive localities.
Such men as the Driskills, Sheedys, Tow
ers q Gudgell, Beals, Sheidleys, Littletieid,
and numerous other cattlemen who have
been a lifetime at the business, have been
investing large sums in thoroughbred bulls
for the past two or three years, and nota-
ble fact in this connection is that each sue
ceeding sale finds them purchasing more
literally than ever, which may be accounted
for by reason OF the profits they have reaPed
from former investments.
The purchasers at the initial Gales OF
thoroughbred cattle in Kansas City were
mostly Texas and Colorado rsnchmen and
small farmers in Kansas who wanted none
but bulls, while in the sales this spring We
find buyers who have never been considered
breeders OF fine stock purchasing largely OF
cows and heiiers as well as bulls, which goes
to show tina. there is great awakening OF
stockmen upon the subject Of thoroughbred
cattle.
A very signifcan. fact is that the leading
breeders of the country have few cattle to
dispose of at auction, the demand being 30
great that they have little trouble in dis
posing Of their surplus at private sale. In
the great Kentucky sales TO come OH the
latter part Of July and first of August, there
are not near so many cattle advertised as
formerly, and if the prices obtained are moi
largely in excess of last year we shall be
very much mistaken. As shown in the In
dicator last week the sales here have been
increasing in average from the start. the
first lot of l42 head sold bringing an aver
age of S76.6S, while the last-the Hamil'
tons'-realized an average of $50. SO on 2lO
head. and the sale of Mr.. Stone at Lesven-
worth brought an average of Sl57.T-
Kentucky has heretofore taken the palm
in average prices Of Short-horns sold here,
simply because her breeders have furnished
good cattle, bot We can see no resson why
our own people in Kansas and Missouri
should not take the lead in providing
thoroughbred stock for the western trade.
And they will do so If they are wise. They
will have an opportunity at the Kentucky
sales. in less than two months from now, to
purchase some of the best thoroughbred
stock to be had, from which they can raiss
as good animals right here at home as car
be produced anywhere. The Kentucky
slockmen will give grand banquet just be-
fore the sales, to which all stockmen are in.
vited, and it would be well for our western
breeders, who are young in the business, to
embrace the opportunity Ct visiting the greai
stock farms Of the blue grass regions Of
Kentucky, and learn something Of the
modes Of raising the bert beef cattle on the
continent. The demand for beef will never
be less than it is to-day, and as il costs just
as much to rear = scrub as thoroughbred
or high grade animal, with the difference in
value about two to one il favor Of the latter
the importance of raising only the best stocl