, 1884-11-26
A NEW ENTERPRISE.
Fattening Cattle on Grain for the
Local Consumption.
Three Hundred Beeves for This
City Every Month.
How Wild Steers are Tanned and
Fed for Market.

Fed for Market.
One of the most important enterprises
ever started in Cheyenne, and one that
would be possible only in a country where
the grazing of cattle is a leading industry,
has been commenced, in a quiet and un-
ostentatious way, by Mr.. r. S. Van
Tassell.
Situated a short distance west of the
city and contiguous to the Union Pacific
railroad, Mr.. Van Tassell has elaborate
stock yards. capable ofholding 5000 cat
tie without crowding. At present he has
BAT head of four-year old steers in the
yards fattening for market, and herein
exists the beginning of the enterprise.
The steers are native cattle which were
brought from Mr.. Van Tassell's ranges at
Rawhide Buttes and Running Water and
when turned into the yards, a short time
ago, were as thoroughly wild as native
cattle can well be. At that time they
weighed, on an average l,l97 pounds.
Within ninety days they will tip the
beam at weights varying from l,560
pounds to 1,625 pounds.
The object Of keeping them in the yards
is to grain feed them for the market.
This is accomplished by means Of a steam
mill which grinds the corn fed to them,
ground corn being fed as it has been
clearly proven that far better results are
obtained by ground feed than with either
corn on the ear or shelled corn. Hay is
also fed from racks in the yards. The
corn used Is obtained in car lots in Ne
braska and is given to the cattle in gener-
u quantities, yet adjusted to the proper
ton per head which has proven to be pro
ductive of the best results.
When first taken to the yards wild
range cattle will not eat the corn and
some time is required to educate them so
that they will take kindly to the, to
them, new food. In about thirty days
the wild steers begin to feed well and
from that time they increase in weight
with marvellous rapidity, putting on, in
fact, about three and a half pounds of
solid flesh and fat each day. Within
sixty days after they have begun to feed
well they are ready for the block, making
ninety days from their entrance into the
yards the average time required to get
them in prime condition. After the ami
mails have gained their maximum weight
it will no longer be profitable to feed
them and therefore they will be slaugh-
tered for local consumption.
The city consumes about three hundred
beeves each month. AT this particular
season of the year the beef trade is
lighter than in the early Spring. Elk,
v%enisou, antelope and feathered game fill
the markets and, to a very appreciable
extent, cause a lessening of the sales of
beef Fowls are largely consumed during
the holiday season, cold weather also in
creases the sales Of pork and ID of these
sales directly effect the beef market. To-
wards Spring, however, the beek trade
becomes more lively and indeed hardly
any other kind of meat is then called for.
The average sales, however, establish 300
beeves per month as the requisite supply
for the city.
1t is Mr.. Van Tassellls intention to
supply the local demands for beef by
making the finest corn fed steers readily
available, so that the markets can furnish
a quality of meat so excellent that its
merits will cause it to be preferred to any
other.
A simple computation will show that,
as about three hundred beeves will be re-
quired for the local trade each month. it
will be necessary to place fresh cattle in
the yards at regular intervals. This will
be done, to the end that each month the
fatted beeves may be in readiness. Any
surplus Of beeves will find a ready sale in
Denver, and in fact the market for the
fresh corn-fed steers embraces a consider
able area of the West.
The steers are kept in the yards farthest
from the railroad, that they may not be
disturbed by passing trains, and although
SO wild when brought to the city, a short
time ago, they are now so tame that they
may be handled with safety, and, indeed,
they will unhesitatingly eat corn from the
hands of their attendants.
1t is within the sphere of the probable
that this feeding enterprise may develop
into the shipment of dressed beef, and
thus add another industry to Cheyenne
enterprises. Those who are interested in
live stock matters will find a visit to the
feeding yards one of pleasure and profit,
while a personal inspection will give a far
better idea of the success of the enter
prise than can be conveyed on paper.
Corn-fed beef has never been sold in
Wyoming and the new enterprise i
therefore at once a novelty and also an
experiment hat cannot fail to be profit
able.
HEAo 49,.