Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-09-03
ROUNDING UP CATTLE.
Separating the Vast Herds on
the Western Plains.
An Annual Operation Of Great Importance
to tle Cattle Owners

An Annual Operation of Great Importance
to tle Cattle Owners
The Omaha (Neb. } Herald says of
the cattle business: The busy times are
confined to the roundup seasons, OF
which there are nominally two, al
though the first, which begins about
May 20 and continues until June !,
and the second commencing some three
weeks later, and continuing well into
August, are 50 nearly together that
they might well be called one season.
At these round-ups, certain designated
men, accompanied by a foreman or
captain, start from some given point
and travel over all the ranges in their
district. They take with them wagons
containing supplies sufficient for their
probable stay, and the brands of every
owner in the district. AS the work is
very severe upon the horses, especially
in cutting out from the herd, each
man has from six to eight horses,
riding one, herdlng the others, and
driving them along with the wagons.
In active work horse should be
changed every three or four hours, and
the rider, when he feels that his animal
is exhausted, rides mp to the herd,
l,sooUe another nrA -i-'sJ on"uSiuS
the salute, sets his tired horse free.
At the roundup all the cattle in the
district ar gathered together in one
herd and driven to the rendezvous near
the center of the district The work
of Identification and branding tn
calves then begins. The ownership of
the calves is ascertained from the brand
of the mother and a similar brand is
placed upon the offspring.
1t happens, however, that in numer-
Gus instances the calves become scpa-
rated from their mothers and it is
matter of imposslbility to ascertain
their owners. These estrays are called
mavericks and become the Joint
property of the association of the round
up district in which they are found.
These mavericks are, by rule of the
Colorado association, sold to the highest
bidders among their members at the
end of the season, and the proceeds
paid in the general fund provided for
the maintenance of the organization
The receipts thus realized frequently
amount to the handsome sum of from
$4,000 to $5000per year in each district
At the second later roundup the same
branding process is carried out, and
The additional feature of gathering
beef is added This consists in select
ing such cattle as are in desirable con-
dition for shipment and may include
all of the different brands An inven-
tory IS made of the cattle 50 selected
and copy forwarded to the different
inspectors and agents along the line of
route the cattle will be driven or car
ried to market, as well as to the parties
to whom they are consigned. When
the cattle are gathered and the brand
il 25 Af s'e h sSRgbt g tai and Y9Es The
difficult task of placing the cattle of
each brand in separate herds is accom-
plished. These are then driven to
their proper ranges by the herlers.
The roundup party, which is in con-
siderable numbers, is generally accom-
panied by man or men from each sur
rounding district and from the adjacent
states and territories, who are furnish
ed with all the brands of their districts
or states, and who are present for the
purpose of identifying any cattle which
may have strayed from the ranges of
other districts. Owing to the seeming
facility with which this class of prop
erty might be stolen, the greatest pre-
cautions are taken, of course, to prevent
cattle stealing and to this end the
police and inspection service is render
ed as nearly perfect as possible. There
are employed in Colorado alone up
ward of thirty stock inspectors or de-
tcctiveS, who are constantly travelling
over the state, examining hides in
butcheling establishments, and inspect
Ing brands, especially at shipping
points. Their operations, however,
are not confined to this state alone but
extend to all points whence cattle are
shipped. Some are stationed at Kansas
City, Omaha, Pacific junction on the
Burlington and Missouri, and ether
points on the routes to market. These
men exercise the right to examine all
manifests and compare them with the
brands of the cattle shipped, and also
with lists which they have with them.
If they discover in the shipment diff
ferent br.nds from those on the mani
tests, they cause the arrest of the ship
per, if they believe the animals stolen;
otherwise they demand and receive
payment for the strange brands, and
turn over the amounts 50 received to
the proper owners, so that with an
honest enforcement of this rule cattle
stealing is next to impossible.
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