The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1880-01-15
CATTLE.


After reading Farmer KS and Gran
gers letters in the EAGLE of last week,
on the Seattle Question:" in which the!
ego for" me, it becomes necessary for
me to point out some of the errors that,
in my judgment, preiudiccd minds arc
liable to fall into.
Farmer X. says:
Bro. Kelly in a late EAGLE champions
the Herefords, and seeks to put the
matter at rest by telling the many desir-
able points two vendors of the breed
claim for it.
In answer to this assertion l have
simply TO ask one question. Are the
two vendors above referred to Henry
Clay, of Kentucky, and Thos. II. Cav
anaugh, Of Kansas, as much entitled 10
fair hearing and just consideration as
zone vender' of shorthorns in the Ar
kansas valley.
Further on Farmer X. says:
When a farmer stakes his all on any
particular breed of stock the cxcellence>
he claims for that breed clearly and
strongly stated looks well enough in an
advertisement.
To all of which | say amen. This is
just what | have been saying TO the
shorthorn breeders for years. Because
the speculative demand has made them
the popular breed you stake your all on
them, and it may be possible. as Farmer
X. says. that all of this 'much speaking"
in their favor is but an advertisement
after all.
In conclusion Farmer X. advises the
farmers TO sell their calves at the age Of
twelve TO twenty-eight months. Now,
candidly, this is the most ridiculous
proposition that ever heard come from
any stock man, unless he intends to sell
them at home to some farmer. for GER
tainly there is not market in the Uni
ted States where these calves could be
sold for beef, or veal. at One.half what
they are really worth to the farmer,
because in the great markets of the
world there is no demand for such ami
mails. from the fact that they are neither
beef or veal.
If were to ship a carload OF these
calves to Chicago or New York would
ship in some ether name than my own,
as the buyers in these markets would
declare rae crazy and pronounce me the
greatest calf in the outfit. Let il there
fore be borne in mind by our farmers
that in order to sell stock i'm any of the
great markets at what it is worth. or at
a price that will pay you for yoar labor,
that stock must be well matured and
fatted--.oiid rat, such us cannot be put
upon calves.
After an experience in buying, feed
ing and shipping cattle for fifteen years
| have come To the conclusion that there
is but one safe way TO operate in this
business, that i.-raiso Your own cattle
on grass. hay and straw. until they are
two to three years old. then feed the !
steer production corn OF your own rails
ing until they are well fatted. Then, il |
YOU cannot sell at home for what they |
are worth ship. When you adopt this |
plan every dollar you receive is eompen-
sation for your labor. Now, farmers
before YOU engage in the cattle business
this matter thoroughly for
While differ with Farmer
X. in many things. yet he is a man of
good Judgment. and has had several
years experience in raising cattle. hogs.
and sheep. but his aim is to sell all this
stock when calves. pigs and lambs, not
in the eastern markets but at home TO
those who want them for breeding pur-
poses. and while he finds market for
bis stock at this age AT big figures of
course iba, is the time and place TO sell.
But never buy stock for the purpose Of
breeding TO keep on your farm and ma
.ure simply because speculation has
made it popular. But let the points be
.ize. shape. quality of beef. amount of
ICED required to fatten. whether you
will be obliged TO stable and blanket
hem. or will they fat on the prairies:
n short. the hest steer for the least
money. My preference for beef purposes
would be first Herefords, second Oeav-
ms. third Shorthorns. and fourth for
,eef and milk combined the Holsteins.
But don't ''stake your ALL on any breed
Is our Shor,horn brethren do.
JNo. KELLY.
L. ST. have no fault TO find with
Changers" defense of the Dcavcns.