The Bad Lands cow boy. [volume] (Little Missouri, Dakota [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-1886, 1886-07-22

seems Impossible Until one sees what an
expert cansiio with a rope.
Alfalfa Feeding
The demand for beef IS growing more
rapidly than the herds are incre reasing
the year 1860 there were asl4 cattle in the
United States for every 11pOO IF onr popllf
lation. To-day there are only 775 head Of Z
cattle to each /, 600 Of population, q very
considerable falling off in tile relative
supply, notwithstanding that during this
period the whole Of Montana; Dakota;
Idaho, eastern Oregon, Nevada; Wyoln-
ing, Colorado, Arizona, most Of New
Mexico and nearly one-half Of Texas have /
been withdrawn from the domination Of
the Indian and filled to oyerfowing with
cattle: The increase iii these states and
territories alone, since 1860, has been over
1900. 600 head Of cattle. Still, with this
wonderful extension Of the business into
new fields, and the saving Of every shs ]
animal of the bovine race for breeding
purposes, the increase Of population has
been so rapid and continuous that We 4
have not been able to keep up our beef
supply. No one win for moment dis
pute the statement that the population
Of tlis country will go on increasing at !
a proportionate rate, and that in consequ-
ence in the year 1910 we will have 1O0;-E
100000 people to eat beef. Where is this
supply to come from? There is no more
unoceupied country. AS a general pro-
position III country is full of cattle.
With our T. Nation doubled the demand
for beef Will besdoubled. How can this
demand be met? Only by producing
double. the amount of beef pn the same
ground now occupied. This condition
can only be reached in small area Of
the country, erths reason that the largs,
eT per e5lss OF ttl;s ID region; III ter=
manent range country, has no adequate
water supply and no greater number Of
cattle can be raised than can gain their
subsistence from the range in its pres:
ent condition. Then it is a safe and
reasonable conclusion that year BY year
the beef supply will grow less per capita,
and that there will be gradual advance
in prices in proportion as the supply is
short. 5..
If then, there is no danger of an Over
supply, and consequent lowering OF
prices, ds a business proposition it is safe
to.spend money in the Development Of a
country where increased supplies may be
had, SO long as you keep those expendi=
tures at a point below which you can se-
cure present return. The future will
guard itself.
| There is yet another advantage. By
the production of hay the ranchman is
put in virtual control Of the market.
The beef market of the east has for years
been regulated by Chicago. The vast
numbers Of grass Texans thrown upon
that market in July and August lower
prices from one to two cents a pound.
During the two and a half months fol-
lowing the great runs Of northwestern
beef from the ranges still further reduce
: prices. But all range beef must 20 to
: the market, for they cannot be held on
the open range. In consequence the
shipper must take such price as he is
offered. But with great stacks Of alfalfa
! in the fields the fat steers may be held
= over until the demand creates satisfac.
: tory prices. 5E5.$ &. +. :s5
"A fat three -year-old steer. weighing
1,1OO pounds off the range in October
! may be put in an open lotanywhere OF
+ the valley lands, and fed hay through tht
;, winter with an absolute certainty o
gaining 200 pounds gross, and6a probabil
z ity Of seventy-ive pounds more.if sjudici
ously handled. It is always profitable &
"a feed a beef steer if he is thriving an,
II doing vel" as feeders say, provided TIL
n feed is secured at a reasonable price. 81
i. is laying on fat that has commercial
value greater than the raw material tina
was converted into fat. sts II.
To back up this alfalfa feeding ide
S the writer has taken great pains tosecur
ed facts and figures, some Of which are hert
SO with presented. Two years ago gentl,
en- man living near Ogden, Utah, fed 4 bhnc
of steers for several months, weighin
the hay fed out each day and the steel
every week. The result showed thi
W 2.24o pounds Of alfalfa put onsane eys
in hundred pounds Of flesh Or growth. Al
M other gentleman living fifteen mil
si- from Salt Lake City brought fifteen thre
ass year-old steers out Of pasture seven mil
sas distant. drove them to his pens d
me weighed them, paying therefore at
ng much q pound. They were weighed
ode the first day Of November. on the 3ists
i'll December they were sold TO a Salt a
y al butcher lriyen fifteen miles 10
Of 1slaugh tel house and weighed. ilayil
tsof again been plrchaal 10 much aIscnI
Ind They had gained no pounds, or +
the pounds 4 day. and during the time i
as been fed nothing bnt alfalfa hay I'd
he open ID. Nesada Letter Cheyenne 81
In nal.