The river press., 1884-05-07
COW TALK.
Matters of Interest Spoken of Among
Stockmen.

StOckmen.
The spring meeting of the Shonki
association in this city last evening is
reminder that the time for brandin
calves and marketing beef is near q
hand. What the result of both will b
is a matter Of interest not to the stock
men alone, but to consumers, for it i
now an admitted fact that the popu!a
ton is increasing in a greater ratio thar
the increase in cattle Of grain there ii
more raised in the United States thar
we can consume and find a market fol
abroad and as England is developing
the agricultural possibilities of India al
rapid rate, the American export trade
in cereals is likely to get black eye
Much of our grain area will have to be
devoted to stock farming to increase the
meat supply else in another decade we
shall have to pay as much for pound
of beef as for bushel of wheat.
Under such circumstances it is not
surprising that eastern and foreign capi-
tai is being put into live stock in yearly
increasing amounts. Cattle, like mer-
chandise and public securities, possess
value as an investment propOrtionate to
the annual revenue they yield. At $40
per head good class of cattle on good
range will, with proper management.
give net return on the investment of
30 per cent. per annum, half Of which
will be cash from the sale of beef and
the other will be increase in females
that are retained in the band. I'm
doubtedly cattle are worth more than
the prices ruling at present. They will
have to advance in value to $l0O per
head before they will be reduced to the
level Of ordinary investments in point
of proftableness.
The foot and mouth scare coming Just
when it did look like bear movement
to depress the price Of cattle. Happily 1t
was proved to be without foundation,
and IN the stock centers the traffic in
herds is still going on. The few sales
reported of northern cattle have been at
$32 to $3S, according to the class and the
range they are upon. AS the branding
season is upon Jus and calves are UNI
usually plentiful, private holders would
not sell at the above prices with the
calves thrown in.
It is noticeable that in Texas and Col
orado the sale of entire herds is usually
made tor lump sum, particularly when
the right to the range is included in the
transaction. Such an arrangement is
undoubtedly the best for all parties
including the cattle themselves. 1t is
impossible to gather all the stock at one
round up, and by the system of counting
out the owner is in suspense and at ex-
pense for about two years. The buyer
can always ascertain the correctness of
statements made regarding the herd,
and by purchasing it for round sum
can obtain it at a less price per capita.
And finally, the wear and tear of hand
ling the cattle, the breaking of limbs,
knocking off of horns and trampling Of
the young stock are avoided.
Brady (Texas) Sentinel: We learn
from Captain Bill White that Mr.. John
sold his stock of cattle to Mr.. Vaughn,
of Coleman county consideration, $54,-
900. These cattle, we learn, were offer
ed last spring for $25, 900. The demand
for stock cattle is increasing Indeed,
the cattle business is looking up, and
our cattle men are happy.
Husbandman "A question for our
cattle raisers to take into consideration
is how to manage their herds SO as to
avoid the loss of SO many young CALVES
on the ranges in early spring. Heret0-
fore herd owners have allowed their
bulls to run at large from year to year.
and the result has been that from 20 to
80 per cent. ..of the cows have given birth
to their calves in the cold winter or
spring months, and from Is to 20 per
cent. of them have been lost to. the own
ers. We have often heard complaint of
cattle men that nearly one-fourth of
their cows on the range produce no
calves. Generally this has been attrib-
uted to the want of more bulls, but real
ly it was the mismanagement of the
bulls more than anything else. Just
how to manage the business SO as to get
better return is difficult problem. If
the herds were being kept in enclosures
it would be no serious question; but
how to manage the herd upon the range
SO as to have the calves come in warm
weather, is the important point.
This matter was once decided by the
Shonkin association. They had ar
ranged to take their bulls off the range
in November of each year and herd
them in one of the big bends of the
Missouri, but owing to the reluctance of
one of the large owners when the time
came, because he was expecting to sell
his herd, the project fell through. Up
OH the ranges in this vicinity the plan
is practicable and should be carried out.
IT is claimed by the stockmen that the
available ranges in this county are suffi-
GENTLY stocked. The present occupants
having contended with Indians, de |
stroyed wild animals and made improve