The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1881-12-14
Improvement Of Butchers Stock.


1t il not many years since high-grade
steers began to be offered on American
markets. In the days of the old Myrick
yards, which was the pioneer stock
yard of Chicago, local meat-cutters
were compelled 90 content themselves
with cuts from the long-horned, lanky
prairie scrub, occasionally varied by the
arrival of Texas beef, which did not then,
and does not now, possess any merit as
butchers stock in markets where good
meat is in demand. A large proportion
of this stock was driven into the city on
the hoof, the greater part of it coming
from remote distances. Being deficient
in original form, and bred from foun-
dation of horns and hoofs alone, these
ungainlY steers were possessed of no
features which could possibly commend
them to the eve of the butcher or the
taste of the consumer. Yet it was the
only stock obtainable, and tough, ,stringy'
beef became the rule. This condition
of things continued for years, and the
enterprising breeders at that early day
who had discovered the profit in grad
ing up their herds, were exceedingly
scarce. There were persons, however,
who after years of experience had made
the subject of grading one of constant
and intelligent effort, and these men
began to arrive with small lots whose
appearance indicated the perfection to
which carefnl grading has since been
brought. The advent of a better class
of beef cattle upon the Chicago market
was q matter of congratulation to the
consumer, and from the year 1862 the
offerings of butchers stock began to
improve very materially. However, at
Al Il
ton paid to the question of early
maturity, which has since become
the leading requisite in the trade. The
graded steers of the early day were not
marketed before reaching the age of
from three to four years. Then COM
menced the rivalry among breeders on
the question of getting their cattle on
the market as early as possible, and
from that time dates the era of scientific
feeding. 1t became a matter of dollars
and cents to breeders to get rid of their
stock, and, as the demand was steadily
Increasing, every improved method OF
feeding was seized upon with avidiLy,
and still further improved by experience
and study. 1t was formerly considered
preposterous to dream of Offering cattle
for the block under the age of three
years, but the science of latter day feed
ing has demonstrated the fallacy of this
idea. 1t has become possible at the
present day to market fourteen hun lred
pound yearlings possessing more points
of excellence for table use than at any
other age, the consequence being that
the volume of trade is not only largely
increased, but breeders are afforded a
surety of high prices following their
careful and judicious feeding.
Quality is the great desideratum, a
fact that has fortunately been appreci-
ated by stock men, who are constantly
engaged in introducing the best of pure
blooded stock into their herds, crossing
imported bulls upon native cows.
1t Is claimed, however, that there is
danger in forcing too much, but as this
early maturity in its effects can only ap-
ply to strictly beef cattle, feeders win
unquestionably continue to follow out a
course which guarantees them large
profits and gives to the consumer high
grade of tender, nutritious meat-Ch,-
cngo 7li6Ens.