Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-02-13
WINTER FEEDING.
The Ola and New Way OF wint.rinr
Range gattle.

In everything there IL n right and
wrong way. Often tho conditions ar.
such that In following out the wrong
way there ia considerable profit. and
after while those engaged In the bust.
ness come TO believe that this really
wrong way IS In reality tho right way.
The range cattle industry Mt the out.
stnrt-and as n matter of necessity-was
conducted on this plan. Cattle were
moved into the mountains and turned
loose IN the high valleys and parks aud
allowed 10 rustic. There was "a certain
percentage Of loss each winter. varying
In accordance with tho amount Of snow.
fall and the severity ~ tho cold. Prices
ruled for years 80 high that the death
losses only cut down the size OF the divi
dends. while still leaving a handsome
balance In the treasury.
so matters continued. The ranges b..
came oycrstocked. and following this
prices began 10 tumble. From bad the
affairs and general finances of most cat.
tie enterprises continued on the down
grade. and failure after failur. followed.
At certain period fcw of the more en-.
terpriing stockmon began 10 cut hnyfor
winter use. This wns found to pay. and
others followed In the same path. Their
objec. IN feeding was simply 10 give tho
poor animals sufficient food TO pull them
through alive, until they were able 10
begin TO rustic again In the spring. This
was all that was mined at. No thought
nv rur.. styua .,t,s.,, o., t,,,...,- a.. l.Ii
vidual animal. The idea Of the trade
was that this would not pay. II the
critter lived the summer aud fall feed
en- the range would mako II TT for mar.
bet.
All this was wrong. However, until
the farmer crowded In upon the opon
range, and fenced his homestead or pre-.
emption claim. things were allowed to
drift along ia this fashion Of taking dcs.
pcrate chances Hnd hoping the markets
would mend. Rather than iucnding, tho
farmers claims became more numerous
and the range cattle industry mofu disa,.
trous. Each year tho cattlemen wore
obliged TO cut moro hay to pull the ever
increasing number Of weak animals
through the winter. Still their object
was simply 10 keepli In them until tins
grass was strong enough in tho spring to
build them up again. THIS. Ia few
brief words. Is the outline Of tho range
cattle industry. There is but llt.le won.
der that there have been W many dire
disasters In the business
That II pays always TO do things right il
cxcmplitied in the winter feeding OF range
cattle ~ In other callings. By winter
feeding we mean what the words imply.
not the moagcr giving ont Of enough hay
10 simply prevent tho weak animals
from turning up their hoofs, but feeding
no as 10 keep the animal In healthy
condition ia where there Is good clean
money for tho stoclsman. The humani.
tartan question does not enter into the
present idea Of tho gain or loss OF tho
nimblo dollar. which Is what the cattle
growers are after. Fewer numbers aud
animals Of larger frame and better con.
diiion and moro weight ara what give
the best returns when the shipments AZ.
made.
A day or two ago tho writer was going
south from Denver. and ON the car were
two brothers returning TO Archulota
county. having disposed Of good bunch
OF cattle at tho top market price. In
conversation we asked n there was not
good clean money in winter feeding on
this plan. aud II they had ever gwen Il
n good trial. To our surprise and graft
iication they said tho cattle they had
just sold were winter fed. and every
animal WINS given hay In plenty to hold
1t In healthy form.
The result was that In the spring they
grew 10 much faster than tho same
grade Of cattle that had been doing as
best they could for themselves ON the
range. during tho months Of snow and
ice. that when they were marketed they
were 30 per cent. bottor and heavier ant.
mails. and brought from 30 To 10 per tent.
higher price. When they started from
homo they thought thcy would have 10
/ 20 to Omaha or Kansas City 10 sell,
While the yards In Denver wcro full OF
common range cattle that buyers did
not want rave ut bottom figures, they
made u quick sale AT tho top price, and
were on their homcward way, leaving
the owners OF tho common. non.winief
fed stock seeking In vain for customers.
Yes. Il pays TO do everything In the
right way. Now that tho range cattle
business ms been curtailed within such
narrow limits aud tho times not as they
once were for tho quondam cattle barons
those who do not adopt the genuine win
ter feeding plan can look forward tc
ultimate disaster and failure. Such u
the handwriting on the wall.-Field and
Farm.