Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1882-10-26
NUMBER 81.
Profits Of Cattle Raising.


vestigating the cattle raising business
Of the plains says: After good
deal Of cross-questioning and figuring
arrived at some conclusions as to the
profits Of cattle raising al d business.
I met one man, for instance, who had
just returned from Chicago, where hc
had sold a thousand head of cattle at
an average Of $40. They were a little
over three years old, and had been on
his ranch two years. He bought them
in 1880 for So a head. Counting in-
terest, care-taking, loss by death and
all other items Of expense, they stood
him, when put on the cars at $11.50
each. Add to this an average of 45
each for transportation from Ogallala,
Neb., to Chicago 500 per car the
actual cost, and an average Of twenty
head to the car-and the animals Oh
the market have cost him him $3.50
each, leaving net profit Of $23, 800 on
heherd. This was simply one-and not
a large one-of many transactionsmad
in the course Of the year by the same
stockman. Indeed. it was in the nature
Of an outside transaction, because the
rule is to raise the cattle from birth in-
stead Of buying them at a year old.
This gentleman has already sold 16,-
500 head Of cattle this year, and now I
has on his ranch 5000 head, Of which
he expects to send about 5000 head to
market before the close of the season.
It is very safe to say that a man start
ing with $500 head Of cattle can after
the second year keep up his herd and
sell $25,000 worth Of cattle every year;
that is to say, he can net that amount
after paying every dollar Of expense.
But $500 head Of cattle are considered
small ranch. The average is more
than twice that number. OF possible
and actual losses to the business there
are really none to speak Of. Two per
cent. viii cover all the losses by death
for a good year, winter and summer.
and, strange 10 say, the losses are
greater in summer than in winter.
In very bad year, when disease ID
prevalent, the loss never exceeds five
per cent.
The stockman's year begins in May
with what is called the around up"
At the close Of the season in the early
winter the cattle are turned loose
without herdsmen, and allowed to-
roam through the whole of Western
Nebraska and Wyoming, finding food
and shelter as they can When the
spring opens a small army Of cowboys
is employed-each stockade contribu-
ting to the force in proportion to his
interest-to range the whole plains.
gather up the cattle and drive to GER
tain stations or places previously
agreed upon at meeting of stock
men held at Cheyenne. From these
immense gatherings each owner se-
iects the cattle bearing his brand, and
forms them into herd to be driven to
his ranch; be. also brands the yearlings
Of his herd, who have up to this time
run with their mothers. After
this grand division the cattle
are put in charge of cowboys
for the summer The grass ID
fine and they improve rapidly, and are
ready for market in>June or July. For
the largest ranch the expense up to
this time is not over $500. The cow
boys get about $50 each for the 'sround
up" but no stockman is allowed to
furnish less than twelve, no matter
how small his herd may be. Some are
taxed as high as twenty cowboys. The
matter is all arranged at meeting Of
the stockmen held under the auspices
of the Stockmen's association. When
the cattle are all gathered in and
branded for the summer the only help
needed for the rest Of the year is q
sufficient number Of cowboys to watch
the herds, which is generally done BY
sleeping in the grass under some
friendly shade. Three cowboys will
take care Of 5000 cattle, keep them ali
together and drive to the railroad sta
tions such as are to be sent to market.
Olive Orchards Of Italy.