Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1891-03-20
WINTER FEEDING.
The Old and New Way of Winterink
Range Cattle.

In everything there IS a right and
wrong way. Often the conditions are
such that in following out the wrong
way there is considerable profit, and
after a while those engaged 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 to rustic. There was a certain
percentage of loss each winter, varying
in accordance with the amount of snow
fall 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 to tumble. From bad the
affairs and general finances of most cat
tie enterprises continued on the down
grade, and failure after failure followed.
At a certain period a few of the more en-
terprising stocklnen began to 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 to rustic 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-
emption claim, things were 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 cattlemcn wore
obliged to cut more hay to pull the ever
increasing number of weak animals
through the winter. Still their object
was simply to keep life in them until the
grass was strong enough in the spring to
build them up again. This, in a few
brief words, is the outline of the range
cattle industry. There is but little Won
der that there have been SO many dire
disasters in the business.
Thatit pays always to do things rights
exemplificd the winter feeding of range
cattle as in other callings. By winter
feeding we mean what the words imply,
not the meager giving out of enough hay
to simply prevent the weak animals
from turning up their hoofs, but feeding
so as to keep the animal in d healthy
condition is where there is good clean
money for the stockman. The HUMANE
tartan question does not enter into the
present idea of the gain or loss of the
nilnble 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.
A day or two ago the writer was going
south from Denver, and on the car were
two brothers returning to Archuleta
county, having disposed VI d good bunch
Of cattle at the top market price. In
conversation we asked if there was not
good clean money in winter feeding on
this plan, and if they had ever given it
a good trial. To our surprise and graft
fcation they said the cattle they had
just sold were winter fed, and every
animal was given hay in plenty to hold
it 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 Oh the
range, during the months Of snow and
ice, that when they were marketed they
were so per cent. better and heavier ami
mails, and brought from 80 to 40 per cent.
higher price. When they started from
home they thought they would have To
go to Omaha or Kansas City to sell.
While the yards in Denver We're full of
common range cattle that buyers did
not want save at bottom figures, they
made Il quick sale at the top price, and
were on their homeward way. leaving
tie owners of the common, non-winte1
fed stock seeking in vain for customers.
Yes, it pays to do everything in the
right way. Now that the range cattle
business las beer curtailed within such
narrow limits and tho times not as they
once were for the quondam cattle barons,
those who do not adopt the genuine win.
ter feeding plan can look forward to
ultimate 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.
This will keep all lice and vermin effect.
ually away from the nest as long as the
hen sits. Sometimes when sitting hens
leave their nests from unknown cause it
is the vermin that drives them away.