Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-05-15
AGRICULTURAL HINTS.
STOCK CATTLE.
A Woeful Shortage OF Good Bulls
Well A Reeves.

W0eful shortage OF Good Bulls a.
Well Beeves.
That farmers and cattle-growers gem
orally have in many cases allowed their
dissatisfaction with the course of the
market for the past few years to get the
better of their Judgment is now fully
and freely recognized. It is conceded
on every hand, says the Breeders Ga
zette, by commission dealers at the
yards and by all whose business leads
them to scan closely the extent and
character of the available supply in
leading cattle-growing districts that
in the quality of the ordinary stock
cattle of the country; that through in
difference and Encouragement there has
been lack of attention to proper
breeding and management which is be-
ginning to tell sharply in every direc-
ton, and the most inveterate ''croakers"
are fast having the conviction forced
upon their minds that present con-
ditions are such as foreshadow a gen.
eral reaction in favor of all the really
meritorious grades.
Well-bred stock cattle and well-bred
bulls are to-day in shorter supply than
at any time during the past ten years,
and those who inform themselves SOON
est upon these points will be able to re-
store their herds to their proper stand
ard at least cost. Those buyers who are
visiting one breeding establishment
after another in quest of young bulls of
a proper degree of individual merit in
the belief that they are worth no more
this spring than they have been during
the past few years may as well face the
not likely to be had for any length of
time upon any such basis, simply be-
cause in the face of the general depres-
sion thousands of breeding COWS have
been sacrificed for lack of a market for
their progeny. Localities in which hum
dreds of pure-bred cows were formerly
maintained for breeding purposes report
that it would be difficult, if not impos-
sible, to fill orders either for good bulls
to head pedigreed herds or for carload
lots for grading purposes. The scarcity
Of good bulls is therefore not merely
prospective or theoretical. but a condi
ton to be met by those who now stand
in urgent need of good blood to repair
the damage done by long period of
neglect.
There is a great temptation in the
early spring to let stock run down even
more than the average management lets
it run down in the winter. 1t may be
that feed gets scarce and we begin to
pinch a little. 1t is very unwise
Keep up the feeding
even if you must buy feed. But turn
ing out on pasture too early is the great
fault The pasture is the resource to
save grain. Before the grass has de-
veloped any nutrition to amount to any
thing the herds and focks are turned
on it, and besides finding little to nour-
ish the system, the ground may be wet
and vast damage is done the pasture by
the tramping of the animals. 1t is right
here that ensilage comes in to do
splendid work. 1t helps keep the ami
mails up and it saves the pastures.
Keep the stock thrifty. AS an East
ern writer remarks, it is reasonable to
suppose that any falling off in condition
must result in some loss. Not that ami
mails, especially those intended for
breeding, should be fattened. Fat is
not thrift It is the hearty, and in
young animals, growing condition that
should at all times be fostered.
There should always be an abundance
VI hOoAAohAhS AOOSA, OhOuSh w properly
distend the stomach and give the diges-
tive organs abundant exercise. This is
necessary for animals bearing
young, and that for reason not often
considered. The ability to feed well,
important as it is known to be, is
largely hereditary. We see this in all
animals bred especially for their fatten-
ing characteristics. Take the most
thoroughbred Short-horn cow, herself
an excellent feeder, falling into the
hands of careless, negligent farmer.
and half starved during the time she
is bearing her calf, and what is the re-
suit? Nine times out of ten she will
bear scrub, inherit!ng not the thrifty
characteristics of the parent, but bear
ing through life the condition imposed
on it during its pentral existence by the
starvation and suffering of its DAM
Western Rural
Kicking Cow.