The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-11-19

Durham or HerefordS. AS to feeding,
he earnestly recommended that cattle
be fed until fat-so fat that it will in
termingle with the lean so that when
you cut it you will have a streak of
lean and fat. You must not stop
feeding when you have the
cattle sleek looking and glossy.
| must be kept and the animal made
real fat and heavy of weight, and
when you do this the low prices you
now complain of will disappear. Mr..
Gardeners talk was interesting and
was listened to with marked atten-
ton.
Mr.. Naussbaumer, speaking on the
subject of breeding, said that his eX-
perience had been that a cross between
Il graded Durham and high grade
Hereford was the best for Texas. He
did not speak as range man; he had
no experience with range cattle. Pure
blood, he argued, did not do well in
Texas, but the cross he mentioned did
the Durham giving weight and thu
Hereford quality.
Mr.. Samson agreed with the gentle
man and argued in favor of grading
the cattle up.
Mr.. Campbell insisted that his ex-
perience was that the higher cattle
could be graded the better.
Pending further discussion Mr..
Caldwell stated that Mr.. George b.
Loving had been requested to address
the convention, and he moved that he
be asked to do so now. The motion
carried, and Mr.. Loving read the fol-
lowing interesting paper:
Mr.. President and Gentlemen
L have been invited by the commit
tee on program to address this con-
vention on 1.-The Livestock Industry
of Texas" and while doubt my abil-
ity to advance many new or valuable
ideas on this great and growing branch
of our wealth-producing resources, yet
my devotion to its interest forbids that
| should decline to raise my voice
when an opportunity is afforded to
speak in behalf of an industry rem
dered dear to me by the associations
of a lifetime.
The livestock industry of the past is
matter of history in regard to which
you are already well versed. 1t is only
now useful to us for the valuable eX-
perimental lessons it teaches. shall
therefore contine myself to the future,
! its outlook, possibilities, etc.
The livestock interest of Texas has
assumed gigantic proportions and far
Outstripped that Of any other state in
the Union, but comparatively speak
ing, it is yet in it's infancy, not so
numerically, but too true as to the
kind and quality Of stock produced
by US.
The statistics furnished by the bu-
reau Of animal industry gives Texas
1876 22l cattle, ,512, 1856 horses, $780,
272 sheep and 2,32l, 246 hogs, which,
numerically speaking, is head and
shoulders above any other state in the
Union. In value per head, how
ever, our showing is not so creditable.
The same authority places the average
value of Texas cattle at $3.50 per head
and all other live stock at about the
same proportion, while the average
value in many other states is esti-
mated at from 500 to $2S. There is no
reason OF excuse why this difference
in value should exist. except the alb
sence of improved blood ard the wart
of attention and proper care on the
part of our stockmen and farmers
Texas may rot be able to produce as
) large framed and heavy steers as oul
sister states farther north, but this il
: no reason. with improved blood and
proper care, why our beef, pork anC
mutton should not bring as much pei
pound rs is paid for similar products
from other states. Notwithstanding
the live stock industry of Texas is now
in rather q depressed condition, anC
our products are not bringing
remunerative prices on the mar
ket, yet this can, III Il great
measure, be attributed to the fac
that we have not produced the kline
and quality Of meats required by tn,
fastidiOus consumer, to whose whims
we must cater if we expect to realize
good prices. In other words the OBJ
stacles that have kept the prices O
our products possibly below the cost
of production during the past few
months are obstacles that we can re.
move and forever prevent their reoc.
currence if we apply the proper rem
, edy. a repetition of the damages
, now being sustained by our present
drouth may in a great measure be
averted by sinking wells, building
tanks and giving more attention tc
r setting aside and preserving our best
: pastures for winter use. / regard the
future outlook of the cattle business
of Texas bright indeed, if the
stockmen will only learn and put into
immediate practice the fact that they
| must produce the kind Of products the
market demands.
; Texas is now undergoing Il change
( from open, and, in a great measure
t free, range to exclusive pastures, and
} with this must be made q complete
: and pr nOunced change in the num-
Der and class Of stock raised. TO use
3 an expression already WON thread
= bare, but nevertheless true, we must
raise fewer stock and better ones.
= There is positively no longer any
, profit in keeping inferior or scrub
l stock; the cost of production is now
too great to leave any profit on any
J out high grade, improved animals
The stockman and farmer should nc
} longer be satisfied with anything
} short Of pure bred males. Our
! steers should be the offspring
L ,f