The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-12
some BISON EXPERIMENTS.
Recent Attempts At CressDlssdins Be-
tween Domestic Animals and Buffalo
CERTAIN TO FAIL IT is SAID,
- says the Proprietor Of the Bigksst b.
con Herd In Americs-ln
Danger Of Ex-
tinction.

Cattle dealers throughout the country
nnpecially owners OF the great cattle
ranges in the west and southwest are
greatly interested In "A widely circulated
report that certain western breeders
have made a success OF experimental
cross-breeding of the American bison
with domestic cattle.
1t is claimed that the crossed breed
combines the docility OF the domestic
ANNA, with the endurance and the largo
oize Of the bison. and that the haif-preeos
grow TO maturity In less time than 40
0estic cattle. The flesh. also, Is SAID
90 be very palatable. and the iur, WINE
retaining all the good qualities of that OF
the bison, Is much softer ana nner'
One of the alleged successful expert
ments Is located on a cattle farm, few
miles south OF Durand. Wis, where. Ut
a. said. three bison captured a few years
ago have. by cross-breeding, Increased
IN n herd OF forty-three animals; and
the owners OF the herd believe that an
extension OF their method OF cross-breed-
ing will bring them fortune In the near
future.
The statement. however, has not been
received with much favor by cattle deal
ers. who are aware OF the Ill success
of several similar experiments, during
recent years.
Some years ago. when the fact was sud-
denly realized rhat the bison was in
Imminent danger OF extinction. the Fed
eral government took steps to avoid
that calamity by>the formation OF buff
falo farms, where. by careful breeding
at least specimens of the deposed snon-
arch OF the prairie could be preserved
Several private individuals also estab-
Iished buffalo farms for the same pur-
pose. One of the most successful OF these
was that OF the late Austin Corbin. the
banker and railroad magnafe. HIS hero
originally consisted of seventeen buna-
loes. but now II comprises nearly one
hundred head of pure-bred bison. and
Il is said to be the largest single hero
of these animals In the country
Mr.. Austin Corbln. son of the original
owner Of the herd, when asked OF his
opinion as to the probability Of a sue
cessful cross-breeding OF the buffalo
with the domestic cattle, said: ut may
be possible. but, guided by a knowledge
OF experiments In that direction made
by my father. ] would rerqure very
strong proof OF the fact before believing
that II has been or can be done win
that Il has been, or can be, done with
success At the suggestion OF the DUKE
of Marlborough. my father. several years
ago imported a herd OF Poiled-Angus
cattle. some thirty In number, from scot
land. for the purpose OF cross-oreedins
with the bison on our cattle farm AT
Newport. New Hampshire. Inc con-
ditions were most favorable, as the pisoh
were thoroughly acclimated ana mao large
" increased in numbers. but the attempt
=, nross-breeding was almost total fall
eve THE resuIt was so unsatisfactory that
ths experiment was abandoned and we
returned to the raising of the pisoh'
pure and unadulterated. The only sue.
cessful attempt at cross PRECEDING tnat
7 have heard OF was that Of Buffalo
Jones. owner Of an extensive cattie
range in New Mexico. When ne was
here. some FIVE years ago. Jones
claimed that his experiment mad Deeh
q success; but when ! saw him hst' SIX
months ago. | Judged from his unwill-
,ngness 10 discuss the cross-breeding of
bison that his experiment had not con-
4inued TO be successful. What makes
me most doubtful that II would pay
breeders TO go into cross-breeding OF
bison with domestic cattle on an ex-
4ensiye scale, Is the fact that. while
she half-breeds would bring little more
than ordinary cattle. the raising OF the
pure bred bison would pay handsomely.
There is no trouble in getting 900 for
q first-class buffalo cow. and prices
range all the way from that figure
down TO $500. Ii seems TO me that IT
would pay these Wisconsin breeders to
raise the Simon-pure article of Ameri-
can bison, rather than the half-breed but.
Salo."
Mr.. Corbin explained his recent ac-
tion. in demanding the return OF the
twenty-five bison loaned by him TO the
Park Commissioners. by stating that
the animals are In bad condition, ow.
ing 10 bad water. and the fact that
they had not sufficient grazing ground.
Tho section set apart for them con-
talned seventy acres, but only twenty
acres were available for grazing. The
commissioners refused to increase the
area. and. therefore. Mr.. Corbin wanted
his buffalo back on his own place.
where he could take proper care OF them.