, 1885-06-21

nOIstHf mugs anu bneep. III IL largely cut
and used as hay. three crops a year being
the average.
Importing he Breed Of Range Cattle.
Doubts have been expressed as to the
practibility Of maintaining the high grade
of cattle if UNPROTECTED the year around
on the range. 1t may be true TO some
extent as to thoroughbred cattle, but we
find by experience that our native born
stock maintain their finer characteristics
even those which are obliged TO shift
for themselves throughout their life time.
We find that their instinct leads even our
higher bred animals to rustic and seek
food for themselves without de~terioratink.
Our experience is that there is no class of
cattle so well qualified TO resist the rigors
OF our winters rs cattle raised on the
ranges, without regard to the standard Of
their breeding. We find that the Texas
steer driven up into our country, show a
larger proportion of loss, especially during
their first winter north, than among our
own native-born CATTLE
The losses Of calves have been greatly re-
duced by taking the bulls away in the fall
and holding them in a pasture until the
proper breeding season.
The Breeding Of Cattle on he Northe,7,
Ranges.
Considering the inferior quality of stock
and the prices which we have had to pay
for young cattle from Texas, it is much
more desirable to raise our stock in Wyo-
ming than to import from Teyas.
During the last eight or ten years our
people have, to a considerable extent,
bought Texas cattle, but it has been for
the reason that we were not able to breed
cattle fast enough to supply the demands
of new capital seeking investment. /
think we will have to be satisfied with
what we produce, from the fact that il is
imprActible under the present condition
OF affsirs to import successfully. on ac-
count Of the opposition to Texas cattle
being driven across the states and terri
tories which they have to pass through in
order 10 reach III territory.
The Increased prise Of young Texas
stock within the last four or FIVE years has
been due to the increased demand for the
purpose of stocking the northern ranges
and the high prices which have ruled for
beef, and the depreciation in number OF
the stock cattle in the Western States,
especially in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and
Wisconsin. The tendency now is for the
beef cattle business to leave the old states
and move out on the territories. The
farmers of those states are devoting their
attention more and more to the dairy
business.
Question. To what extent can the ca
pacity of Wyoming for cattle raising be
increased2
Answer. That depends entirely upon
the increase of the water supply.
Question. How far can cattle range
from water at the present timer
Answer. Five or six miles is as long a
distance as cattle will successfully Craze
from water.
Question. So that the range lands now
between the belts of lands following the
streams are to day practically unavailable
for grazing purposes?
Answer. Yes; practically so.
Question. Has the experiment of arte-
sian wells been tried to any extent in the
high lands of Wyoming2
Answer. No; not at all.
Question. And for the reason, | sup
pose, that you still have an abundance Of
land within reach of a natural water sup
ply2
Answer. Yes; that is so.
Question. What is the character of the
soil OF Wyoming as compared with that OF
the adjacent tates and territrries2
Answer. In the greater portion of the
territory of Wyoming the soil is of a
g~ravelly loan, carrying quite a sod. and
for that reason 1t holds more moisture
than the soil of the adjacent territories
and the state of Colorado. We are less
liable to drought, and we find that with
an increasing water supply we have an in-
creased crop of grass. The grass of Wyo-
ming does not kin out as the result of
long drought and oyerstocking of the
ranges, for the reason toat the soil is firm,
and the roots of the grass will set, and the
surface well covered, whereas in a large
portion Of the southern country, also in
Nevada, Utah and Idaho, the soil is
loose and sandy, so that when the seasons
are dry and the wind blows the soil away
from the roots 1t is apt to parch out, ex-
cept in the mountainous country, where
the soil is very firm. The soil of Mon
lana and Dakota is quite similar to that Of
Wyoming.
Question. What is the percentage Of
loss on account of the severity Of the win
teri
Answer. The percentage of loss from
all causes would be a general average of
from 3 to 5 per cent. This loss occurs
mainly from young heifers dropping calves
too early 10 the season. Wyoming is not
so much exposed to the cold, damp "bliz-
yards as Texas and the South generally
nor to the extreme cold of the North as is
Dakota and Montana, therefore we are
most favorably situated. This, in con-
nection with our abundant supply of
grass, enables our cattle to approach the
winter in better condition, and to with
stand the severe storms with less loss.
The snowfall is about the same in Wyo-
ming as in Montana, but the range of the
thermometer is not no great in Wyoming.
Our principal rainfall is during spring and
summer months, and before the frosts
occur, SO that the grass cures in its natural
condition, and retains its full nutritious
qualities during winter.
Question. What per cent of your COWS
drop calves each year,
Answer. | suppose about so TO 60 Der
cent. The increase from 2-year-old heifers
is about 40 per cent.
Question. How does the increase in
Wyoming compare with the increase in
Texas and the South2
Answer. | should say that the increase
was much greater in that country than in
Wyoming; but every two animals raised
in Wyoming are worth three raised in the
Southern country,
Question, About what relation does tho
amount OF capital invested in horses and
in sheep in Wyoming bear to the amount
of carstal invested in cattle; also. how
does the amount Of capital in horses and
in sheep compare with that in cattle in
the adjoining states and territories, in 50
far as you can judgeY
49,. III. k-ol... - b,-aa. "a