Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1885-07-08
Wednesday, July 8. 1885.
RANGE CATTLE.

Heretofore there has been much
speculation as TO the probable outcome
OF the range cattle business for the
present year, and there is yet much
speculation concerning prices, but the
season is now getting along so far that
there can be some idea formed of the
probable supplies, and some intelli-
gent idea may also be formed concern
ing the demand. Ranch men have
suffered heavy losses in some quarters
during the past winter, but as a rule
the loss was lighter than expected
and on an average has not amounted
to more than 5@7 per cent, including
al kinds of cattle. Many sections,
through their papers, report no losses
whatever, but that is all nonsense, as
the loss from natural causes in the
mildest Of winters is placed at about 8
per cent. Perhaps the sections which
report no loss mean that they have
suffered no lass above that. The calf
crop, however, is an unusually good
one. Nearly all sections report
heavier calf brand than was thought
possible after such a severe winter.
But with few exceptions all sections
of the range country report the grass
later than usual. The range now il
remarkably good, almost everywhere,
but it has been late and from the best
information at hand shipments of
good solid grass.fed beeves will be
about two to four weeks later than
usual. AS to quantity of beef for the
seasons market, there will probably
be an increase of 10 to 25 per cent over
last year. 1t Is calculated that the
greatest increase in shipments will be
from Texas. where 1t has become
necessary to ship by rail and directly
to market, a much larger number of
young cattle than usual on account OF
the quarantine which prevents the
passage OF tens of thousands of young
cattle going up the old trail route. A
good deal, however, will depend on
the condition of market values.
Thus far this season thousands OF
thin and very unmsrketable young
stock cattle and breeding cattle have
been shipped from Texas and they
have had to sell at low prices. But as
u rule these cattle were sent in by men
who were cramped for means and had
to have money even at sacrifice.
There will be good many more ill
conditioned cattle sent to market for
the same reason; but the pressure for
money will soon be relieved, and then
upon the condition Of prices more
th.n anything else will depend
whether the shipments will,be very
large or simply large. The general
demand this year is good and II will
continue to be good, aud it will not
be dependent upon tany eastern war
clouds either. At one time high
hopes were being based by cattle men
on hostile coming together OF the
Bull aud Bear Of the east, but since
that matter seems to have collapsed
there seems ~ be no alteration In the
good prospect for an immense demand
this year for American live stock.
IL is generally considered that there
will be a very strong demand this
year for good fat cattle, aud IL Is pretty
certain that a larger number OF the
range cattle this year will come under
that classification than ever before.
No one expects low prices for good
corn-fed cattle, end so it would seem
that there is good ground for thinking
that prices for the best range cattle
will be fairly remunerative. But our
friends will have 10 beware Of flooding
the market with cattle that are not
MISUNDERSTANDING Stock Journal.