The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1891-03-03
WINTER FEEDING.
The Old and New Way of winterine
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 those engaged in the busi-
ness come to believe that this really
wrong way is IN reality the rights way.
The range cattle industry at the out
start-and as 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 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 50 high that the death
losses only cut down the size Of the divi-
dends, while still leaving a handsome
balance in tho 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 certain period few Of the more en-
terIraing stOckmen 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-
emp6on claim, things were allowed to
drift along in this fashion of taking des-
perate chances and hoIing 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 wore
obliged TO cut none hay To pull the ever
increasing number Of weak animals
through the winter. Still their object
was simply to keep life m 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.
That it pays always to do things right Is
exempli6ed in the winter feedingof range
cattle as in other caI1ings By winter
feeding we mean what the words imply,
not the meager giving out of enough hay
10 ,kr L.
from turning UP their hoofs, but feeding
50 as to keep the animal IN healthy
condition is where there is good clean
money for the stockman- The humani-
tartan question does not enter into the
present idea of the gain or loss Of the
nimh2e dollar, which is what the cattle
growers arc after. Fewer numbers and
animals OF larger frame and better CON
ditinn and more weight are what give
the best returns when the shipments are
NADIA
A day or tUo ago the writer was going
south from Denver, and ON the car were
two brothers returning 10 Archuleta
county, hsving disposed Of good bunch
OF cattle at the top market price. In
conversation We asked if there was not
good clean money in wiuter feeding on
this plan, and il they had ever given It
good trial To our surprise and graft
fcatiom 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 ON the
range, during the months of snow and
ice, that when they were marketed they
were 80 per cent better and heavier ami
mails, and brought from 80 b 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 were full OF
common range cattle that buyers did
not want save at bottom figures, they
made quick sa1e at the top price, and
were ON their homeward way, leaving
the owners of the common, non-winte1
fed stock seeking In vain for customers
Yes, it pays 10 do everything in the
right way. Now that the range cattle
business has been curtailed within such
narrow limits and the times not as they
once were for the quondam cattle baruns
those who do not adopt the genuine win
ter feeding plan can look forward te
ultimate disaster and failure. Such il
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 veunin effect
ually away from the nest as long as the
hen sits Sometimes when sitting hens
leave their nests from unknown cause Il
is the vermin that drives them away.
If colts are kept in fields adjoining