The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-12-19
WILL BREED THEIR own.
The Northwest Not a Breeding
Ground for the Past Six
Years.
Custer County Cattlemen Have a
Plan to Replenish North-
ern Herds.
The Scheme Is to Handle Range Cattle ON
a Moderate Scale with Ample
Provision.

The fact that a number Of owners of cat
tie in Custer county have decided to en-
bark in the breeding of cattle. indicates
that they consider that by careful methods
they can. in the northwest, produce their
own calves to replenish their herds, says
the Stockgrowers Journal. The northern
ranges, of course. have not been depended
upon as a breeding ground for the keeping
up of the large herds, though since the
hard winter, outfits that handled she cattle
have made a success Of the business, be-
cause Of the succession of moderate win
ters. But cattlemen. like a burnt child
dread tho Are; the fear of a recurrence of
such a winter as 1857 was. will deter them
from putting bulls on The range as a means
OF keeping up the large herds. This w bar
outfit at Mingusyllls brands about 10000
calves a year, but they are said to be work
ing out Of she stock as fast as posaI-
BILE, hoping to be out of the range
breeding business before another hard
winter. The northwest has net been a
breeding ground for the PAST six years;
they have depended upon the southwestern
ranges to keep up their herds. And those
cattlemen, considering hat the condition
Of the cattle market is due to over-produc-
tion, have been spayinp. 1t would strike
one that these Interruptions with reproduc-
tion must have an effect upon the beef
market of the country and upon the price
of cattle.
Whether cattle are decreasing in Numbers
as rapidly in the west as reports at times
show is a weston, but there is one fact at
least which indicates hat such a decrease
must take place, if has not done so already:
and that is that comparatively few straight
range herds are kept up. Those who oper-
ate extensively do so BY bringing in south
western cattle. The number of COWS in the
northwest has decreased at a wonderful
rate in o few years. The natural result Of
this should awe it's effect upon the mar
ket. Then. if it be true. AZ south
western papers claim, that cattle
men In that region are spaying to a great
extent. the result should be to reduce the
cnttle and increase the price. II 10 a fact
that the high prices for cattle have come in
cycles of about six years. May it not now
be the eve of an advance in the price of
cattle? In our opinion it is. The indica-
lions are that cattle will sell at a good
price next year. If this proves to be so it
will Justify those who are now embasking
in she cattle in their venture.
The plan is to handle range cattle on q
moderate scale with ample provision for
feeding them when lack of grass is appar-
ent. Thu cattle will still be range cattle,
but will be run in such numbers that they
can be cared for during hard winters, and
COWS will be allowed to get into condition
by the early weaving Of calves. This we
consider n healthy movement which will be
rewarded by success. for good cattle al
ways sell well.
The impression, however, forces itself
that next year will witness an advance in
price upon all cattle. There are three rea-
sons for this belief. First. the long con-
tinued depression in beef values has turned
the farmers of the west from beef produo-
ton to other pursuits and production Is not
keeping pace with the increase of popula-
ton. The second reason is the large fall
ing off in production of range beef from
the gulf to the northern ranges. These
reasons are sufficient to bring about a de-
cided reaction SO soon as they are clearly
understood in the market centers and it ia
believed that another year will demonstrate
the true situation. But the third one IS one
which will appeal to any one who has no.
ticed the papers: There is far more in
quiry for range cattle for feeders than there
has been since 1885. and man of the old
time cattlemen who sold out in 1886, be-
cause they TO essw what was coming, are
buy ing up cattle and are preparing to again
han die big bunches." Undoubtedly the
u in tina tide has come.