Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-02-15

per cent, the number Of the increase in
each case would be 2O5 head. The esti-
mate is on the safe side.
ANY practical cattle breeder win admit
that with sires and dams of the grade
and price mentioned in the schedule OF
cattle stock, $50 her head would be o
far price for yearling steers and heifers
the get Of the stock described.
Any stOckman conversant with the
prices current for yearling mules at the
Kansas City stock yards for the past
would be quite as easy to sell yearling
mules, the get of the breeding stock des.
cribed in the schedule, at $50 per head,
as to sell the yearling steers and heifere
above described at $50 per head. These
estimates in both cases are on the safe
side for the current price Of yearling
mules, grain fed, has been SIS per head,
and the demand is double the supply at
that price and probably will be for years
past year from all parts Of the United
States and from the West Indies and in
many instances have gone away empty
handed.
The value Of the breeding stock of
cattle may be reckoned as worth cost
| for six years. The value Of the breed
ing stock raising mules may be reckon
| ed as worth cost for ten years, as mares
| which do not work and are we'll fed and
cared for will breed steadily for ten
years, and often for fifteen years.
| Value Of annual product:
eo6 grade yesrlinss, steers and hsifcs st
80. ee,1b0
Loss the average annual Incidental expense g. ,izs
Makes the average annual net prsfitin
| This shows net PROFIT Of say 70 Per cent per
annum on the sum invested IN cattle.
sO6 yeariing mules as go per hsad o.. .ef2,eoo
Less the average annual accidental on.
penses .....-..............."... S,l16
Makes the average annual net pront I'm
mule raising ,......... .......... ts,i5A
This shows . net proat Of % pcr cent per 90
mum on the sum invested in faising naies..
We are well aware that where cattle
are raised in large numbers on the range
amounts OF money invested are very
large, making the per capita expense
very small, the percentage Of net profit
is much greater. The same would also
be true Of mule raising in larger num-
bers and without feeding. But it must
be borne in mind that the day Of free
ranges and free pasturage, and the cruel
practice of turning cattle and horses ON
the wild plain TO fight the battle of sub
sistence unaided, will before long have
passed into history, and each herdsman
will own the land used for pasture and
be compelled 10 properly care for his
stOct. As Ear as the factors of risk and
loss affect the profit in cattle and mule
raising the advantage Is In favor of the
mules as ten TO one. The losses by dis
ease and exposure are often very disas-
trous ameng cattle, and cattle are very
susceptible TO epidemics and CONTAGIOUS
diseases. On the contrary the mule
comes to stay, and after he has once
stood upon his feet and sucked the dam
nothing short Of q Gatling gun, o how
itser, or stroke OF lightning can upset
him.
The expense Of raising mules and cat
tie after they are one year old until the
mule is three years old and ready FOR
the harness, and the cattle are three
years old and ready for market il also
substantially alike.
The average value Of matured grade
cattle such as we have described n
three years old, reckoning half as steer
and half cows, is about $50 Der head.
The average value of matured. nm.
broken mules, the get Of such dams and
sires aswe haye deserved, is $l25 pel
J head.
These figures. which show 90 fayora
bly, in favor of mule raising as cOmpar
ed with cattle raising, are verified by
experience and the market reports.