Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1891-04-17
WINTER FEEDING.
The OLD and New way of wintcriss
Range Cattle.


Range Cattle.
In everything there is right and
wrong way. Often the conditions are
such that in following out the wrong
way there is considerable profit, and
after a while Shose enga-ed in the bust
ness come to believe that this really
wrong way Is IN reality the right way.
The range cattle industry at the out
start-and as a matter of necessity-was
conducted on this plan. Cattle were
moved into the mountains and turned
loose in the high valleys and parks and
allowed 20 rustic There was a certain
percentage of loss each winter, varying
in accordance with the amount Of snow
fan and the severity of the cold Prices
ruled for years SO 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 be-
came Overstocked, and following this
| prices began 90 tumble. From bad the
affairs and general finances Of most cat
tie enterprises continued on the down
! grade, and failure after failure followed.
AT certain period few Of the more en-
| terprising stocklnen began 10 cut hay for
winter use. This was found to pay, and
Others followed in the same path. Their
object in feeding was simply to give the
poor animals sufficient food to pull them
through alive, until they were able to
( begin 10 rustle again in the spring This
was all that was aimed at. No thought
or care was given to improve the indi-
vidual animal. The idea Of the trade
was that THIS would not pay. If the
| critter lived the summer and fall feed
on the range would make it fit for mar
| ket.
All this was wrong. However, until
the farmer crowded in upon the open
range, and fenced his homestead or pre-
empuon claim. things We're allowed to
drift along in this fashion of taking des-
perate chances and hoping the markets
would mend. Rather than mending, the
farmers claims became more numerous
and the range cattle industry more disas-
trous Each year the cattlemen wors
obliged 10 cut more hay to pull the ever
increasing number Of weak animals
through the winter. Still their object
was simply 10 keep life in them until the
grass WAS strong enough IN the spring TO
build them up again. This, in few
brief words. Is the outline of the range
cattle industry. There is but little won
der shat there have been 50 many dire
disasters in the business.
Thatit pays always 20 DO things rights
eNcmpihrd In the winter feeding Of range
cattle as in other callings. by winter
feeding we mean what the words imply,
not the meagcr giving out of enough hay
To- simply prevent the weak animals
from turning up their boots, but feeding
So ~ to keep the animal in healthy
condition is where there is good clean
money for the stocBman. The humani.
tartan question does not enter into the
present idea Of the gain OF loss of the
uimble dollar which is what the cattle
growers are after. Fewer numbers and
animals of larger frame and better con-
dition and more weight are what give
the best returns when the shipments are
made.
i day OF two ago the writer was going
south from Denver, and ON the car were
two brothers returning to Archulets
county, having disposed Of "A good bunch
OF cattle nc the top market price. In
conversation We asked if there was not |
good clean money in winter feeding on
this plan, ana if they had ever given it !
good trial. To our surprise and graft |
tication they said the cattle they had |
Just sold were winter fed. and every
animal was given hay in plenty to hold |
il IN healthy form.
The result was that in the spring they
grew SO much faster than the same !
grade Of cattle that had been doing As
best they could for themselves ON the |
range, during the months of snow and |
ice, that when they We're marketed they |
were 80 per cent. better and heavier ami |
mais, and brought from 30 to 40 per cent. !
higher price. When they started from |
home they thought thcy would have u |
20 10 Omaha or Kansas City to sell |
While the yards in.Deuyer were full of |
common range cattle that buyers did |
not want save at bottom figures, they
made a quick sale at the top price, and
were on their hOmeward way. leaving
the owners of the common, non-winter
fed stock seeking in vain for customers
Yes, it pays to do everything in the
right way. Now that the range cattle
business las been curtailed within such
narrow limits and the times not us they
once We're for the quondam cattle barons,
those who do not adopt the genuine win
ter feeding plan can look forward to
disaster and failure. Such is
the handwriting on the wall-Field and
Farm.
Points OF Interest.
When You set the hens for spring
chickens this year take some dried tobac-
co leaves and line the nests with them.