Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1898-06-03
BUFFALoEs AS CATTLE.
Erstwhils Lord OF the Plains Il Now
Hitehsd TO . wagon and
Mads TO work.

It will be q surprise to mostPeople to
know that the lordly buffalo that once
roamed the western plains in countless
numbers have come Town in these days
to the level OF ordinary cattle. to be
bred on a farm. about six years
ago. says Albert Huber, OF C~ochrane,
Wis, ~ started a buffalo farm at this
place, and have succeeded in making 4
complete success Of the venture. h
stock of the farm at first consisted OF
three young bison, O bull and two cows.
This stock has increased and multiplied
until 1 have to-day a herd of IS full
blooded bison, and about is bulls and
heifers, which have been produced by
crossing the buffalo with domestic ami
mails.
The crossing has been particularly
successful - As s:lt-hresd animals.
besides possessing the size, strength
and endurance of the buffalo, are rs
docile as the ordinary animals of the
farm. Their fur is particularly fine,
they mature earlier than domestic cat
tie, their flesh is wholesome and tender,
and they can stand considerably more
exposure in the winter than do the
domestic cattle.
"My experiments have shown that as
= rule the buffalo COW raises q calf
every other year, the birth usually a k
ing place between the months of Feb
ruary and July. We allow the calf to
run with the mother for two or three
months Then the little animal is
wcaned. This is done for two reasons.
Firstly, we find hat we can better do
mesticate the calves when they are sep
arated from their mothers, and, second
", when deprived of the presence of
the calf the mother will sooner present
the of the stock farm with an
other one.
The difficulties of buffalo farming
are not SO great as would be expected
by those who have not experimental.
According to the popular idea the buff
falo farmer would have frequent fiere
encounters with the wild stock that he
is trying to raise. There is no such
trouble. We turn the hepi out 10 pas
ture with merely q barb wire fence TO
keep them from ~straying. We have yet
TO find that thew make Il effort TO es-
cape. The only thing TO guard against
in building the fence is 10 make i just
high enough TO prevent the animals
from jumping over. This is one of the
things that we have 10 teach the calves
at an early age. Taken in hand young
and properly trained, they become Us
tame - the domestic animal.
up TO the age OF two years the calves
are inclined TO be frisky. and have TO be
taught that any attempt TO jump or
break down fences will meet with
prompt punishment. They very soon
learn that lesson, and having once
learned 1t they give us NJ trouble pro-
vided the fence is properly constructed.
An interesting addition TO the outii;
20 the buffalo farm is the buffalo wagon.
Occasionally there is born on the farm
a buffalo that developes into a Q I'M
ruly rebel. Any attempt to hitch such
IN animal 10 a wagon results in one OF
W things, either the buffalo runs
away with the wagon and never stops
running until the whole Outfit is de
molished, or else he let's out with his
rear hoofs and tries TO kick the wagon
10 pieces. In either event the valuable
stock Of the farm is sure TO suffer.
THE buffalo wagon is the remedy for
this, and il never fails 10 work Ike .
charm when the unruly animal is iakc:.
In hand early enough in his turbulent
career. II is made with a hollow cen.
trail section large enough for the bu.-
falo 10 stand up in and move with ease.
In front OF him. where his horns will
strike il he attempts any buiting tricks.
Is a heavily braced wooden PARTITION.
while behind him. where his heels woulr
strike in case he attempted to re,
square with q supposed enemy in his
rear, there is a similarly fortified sec
ton OF woodwork.
lie IS securely hi;ched 10 this ap-
pliance, which is made TO move on
wheels, and is then driven around the
farm. The first impulse of the buffalo.
&c he feels himself dragged along
against bis will by a force mat he can
not resist. IS 10 lower his horns and let
drive with blind rage al the woodwork
in front Of him. After he has t=.cf this
eSpcdient for half an hour OF - and
hnGs iEai he has: made no .i~-..e..;au nm
tne enemy, while Eis own nom. hn,.
oten pretty nearly demolished in The al
tack. he reasons with himself. after the
oufia!o manacr. that at last he has met
moro than his match. and decides 70
ADOPT different Eie-ands Of attack.
j hen i boots come into action. 1.
Is not . very easy thing for him 20 use
THESE latter means Of oTense. as III,
narcotics wagon is driven round and
round the farm, and he has little chance
OF using his hoois except for the natural
process OF roiting. When ne does pet
Acaanee be lets them fy at the fortified
behind him, and hurts him
sen so badly that hedoesn't try itogain
uau! the pain has worn away.
II be has still SONG fight ieft In him
oy that time re returns 10 the ATTACH
ena Keeps IL Up until worn out. II Is
seldom thst We find il necessary 70 m,
an unruiy buffalo through 0 tbau a
week OF this kind Of training. Jhei,
memory IS short and they have 10 l..
thoroughly disciplined at the start. bu.
once they have thoroughly acquired
ne knowledge that unruIiness meets
WIN It's own punishment. they become
oocLle and We never afterward have
trouble With them.
|, ~" 'he pfeseu; rate Of increase we
oelere that our buffalo farm will Weld
fortune IN q rery few years une.--