Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-03-26
SLAUGHTER OF THE iNNocsNrs.
aIidy Morgan on the Beef Cattle Trade
Of 1890.

siidy Morgan on the Beef Cattle Trade
Of 1890.
A retrospective glance at the cattle
trace IL our eastern seaGoard markets
tor the past summer shows an unusually
large and varying trade with the British
, isles. Spectators and brokers hurried
forward in their anxiety to Land cattle
and dressed beef in Great Britain. This
praiseworthy undertaking. mad. however.
two sides-one Of profit. one Of loss. So
unusual did the shipments become that
toward the close Of August and during
the early days of September the losses
sustained entirely outoalanced the profit.
Then lockers On brewea war Of the
weaker against the weather., which
ended as such struggles always do.
Money Judiciously spent gained the day,
and to avoid further loss some of the
smaller shippers united their interests,
and by reducing the volume of the ex-
ports prices returned 10 paying basis.
While this war was being waged a
new phase appeared il the home trade.
So fierce was the contention in the great
western centers of onr cattle business to
secure beeves suited for the British mar
kets that only refnse was left as the
show of those VINO still pretended to sell
live beeves to our local wholesale BUTCH
ers. Then the mercantile sag;city of the
brokers who deal in western dressed
beef showed itself These men soon Sc
cured through their western connections
enough of good beef to supply the press
ing needs of few Of the fashionable re-
tail butchers, and western dressed beef
sold from the city refligerators at higher
prices than did city dressed beef. With
the falling off Of the export trade this
condition ceased, ard business returned
to its normal channel.
During the greater part Of the year
1890 the quality Of the local supplies of
beeves has been NEST unreasonably be-
low what it ought 70 be. The Texas
herds were so poor TINT consignments
frequently stood over unsold, and when
at length some buyer was found the
quotations We're withheld. Brokers feared
TO discourage shippers. The native herds
of grass fed were also poor article of
commerce. WLenall contingent expenses
had been met very little remained to
gladden. the Spectator A grass fed
steer 1000 pounds weight sold at three
cents per pound and often prices were
lower, which is not a nouree of JOY and
satisfaction TO breeders or yet TO the
shipper.
The great evil Of an indisciiminate
slaughter OF calves is growing annually
Not alone are the calves of the dairying
districts OF New York state hurried TO
indiscriminate death. but Maryland has
entered the field of early destruction.
Then large numbers of western calves
come forward week after week. SO long
as only bull calves were slaughtered it
allowed Of question. but when the move
ment of comely native heifers com
menced then the sanity Of those con-
cerned became doubtful. With an inn
mense tract Of country e. yet devoted to
grazing, it seems impossible that it is the
proper thing to slaughter native heifers
and retain Texas cows. This question
is most worthy of mature consideration
by both parties-the breeders of native
heruS ana the DreeueTs Ol tnDse wiz
creatures of the plains. II there IS an
overplus of calves. then slaughter rs
veals the inferior class and retain the
better. Native heifers and well bred
bulls on the plains would pay better
than Spanish herds now do.
One patriotic breeder shipped for
slaughter two carloads OF young full
bloodel Hereford cows. The herd Of
thirty-two individuals was a picture
worthy of Landseer. Yet these cows
sold far below four cents per pound, and
stood for days in the livestock pens
awaiting a satisfied buyer. Is the conn
try so well supplied with pedigree herds
that we can afford 10 slaughter valuable
breeding cows:- American Agricultur-