Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1881-02-24
The Influence Of Location on Breeds.

From the Western Homestead
One of the most important subjects for
any breeder to study is the adaptation of the
stock which he purposes to handle or breed
to his location. Probably there is no breed
of stock but what has special features to
commend it, but no one good point alone
is sufficient to warrant the attention of breed
ers of any locality. In the east, where
land is high and feed in proportion, to
realize apaying profit the stock raiser must
grow those breeds that will give the great
est returns in the shortest time, while on
the other hand the western breeder need not
necessarily pay as close attention to this
point. What the western breeder wants is
an animal that is hardy, one that will lay on
fat rapidly, and still if he is forced to keep
his stock beyond the time at which he usu-
ally intends to sell, there will be no loss
but a gain propo1tionate. Our farmers
need breed of cattle that can be fed until
they are four years old without loss, but
with absolute gain. We in the west
are dependent upon the fuctua-
tons to the st. Louis and Chicago
markets and they in turn upon eastern mar
kets. Therefore small cattle that arrive at
maturity when three years old will not do.
We must have stock that has the bone to
carry carcass of l, 500 or 1900 pounds.
With an animal Of this kind, if the market
is not suitable when three years old, hold
until it is four and there is no loss. We
are just beginning to be producers of cheese
and butter, therefore as these industries in
crease there will be a demand for good
mich COWS, but with our markets at dis
lance no farmer can afford to buy cattle for
dairying alone. He must look to the dis
posal of his dairy stock for beef when
through age or other reasons, they become
improbable. For this reason the Western
farmer needs breed of cattle that will be
the best for general purposes. 1t is differ
ent to a certain extent with hogs. They re-
quire less time to fatten, and there is more
risk in holding them than there is in hold
ing cattle. No one would for a moment
contend that it would pay man to raise
vegetables and then draw them a hundred
miles in wagon to find market yet Just
such speculations are entered into by stock
men, with the expectation of making a sue
cess. We have in mind man who stocked
a New Mexican ranch with Cotswold sheep
in order that he might raise mutton, but he
soon discovered that while he could handle
the native Mexican or Spanish sheep il
large fiocks, he could do nothing of
the kind with the Cotswold; but he
didn't discover this fact untilit had cost him
handsome sum. What might be termed
almost craze is and has for num-
Der of years been working westward, and
this is the big horse furrwo. A number
of eastern breeders came to the conclusion
that they would derive both fame and for
tune from the introduction of the large
bulky, and un&ield Clydesdale or English
draught horse. 1t was first contended, and
no doubt honestly, that they were superior
to our horses, both in point of size and en-
durance, and consequently would make
better dray horses as well as farm horses
But this has been proven incorrect. They
require twice the food of an ordinary sized
animal, and while there is doubt of their
great strength, there is seldom any use for
it. In other words, they have become I'M
popular in the east, and their breeders are
now trying to work out an interest for them
in the west. We wish to say to our readers
that there are three reasons why they don't
want these horses. First, they are not har-
dy; second, they are good for, nothing but
heavy work, and are almost useless as road
sters; third, they are two large to cross with
the small pony mares, which is one of the
advantages claimed for them. The west
ern farmer needs stock that will bear four
years feeding for the reason that coarse
feed is abundant. And of the horse kind, he
quires in the majority of cases the same
team to pull the plough and draw his grain
To market o.