The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-07-15
pOr-AACLo AS CATTLE.
Brstwhiie Lord of the Plains Is Now
Hitched 10 81 Wagon and
Made to work.

1t will be surprise to most people to
know that the lordly buffalo that once
ronmed the western plains in countless
numbers have come down in these days
TO the level of ordinary cattle, to be
bred on a farm. about six years
ago." says Albert Huber, of Cochrane,
Wis, 81 started buffalo farm at this
place, and have succeeded in making
complete success of the venture. The
stock of the farm at first consisted OF
three young bison, bull and two cows.
This stock has increased and multiplied
until have to-day a herd of rs 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 the halfbreed animals,
besides possessing the size, strength
and endurance of the buffalo, are as
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
a rule the buffalo COW raises a calf
every other year, the birth usually TAX
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
weaned. This is done for two reasons.
Firstly, we find that 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 owners 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 fierce
encounters with the wild stock that he
is trying to raise. There is no such
trouble. We turn the herd out to pas
ture with merely barb wire fence to
keep them from straying. We have yet
to find that they make any effort to es-
cape. The only thing to guard against
in building the fence is TO make il just
high enough to prevent the animals
from jumping over. This is one of the
things that we have to teach the calves
at an early age. Taken in hand young
and properly trained, they become as,
tame as 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 it they give us no trouble pro-
vided the fence is properly constructed.
AN interesting addition TO the outfit
to the buffalo farm is the buffalo wagon.
Occasionally there is born on the farm
a buffalo that developes into most I'M
ruly rebel. Any attempt to hitch such
an animal to a wagon results in one of
two 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
TO 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 to work like a
charm when the unruly animal is taken
in hand early enough in his turbulent
career. 1t is made with hollow cen
trail section large enough for the buff
falo to stand up in and move with ease.
In front of him, where his horns will
strike If he attempts any butting tricks.
is heavily braced wooden partition,
while behind him, where his heels would
strike in case he attempted to get
square with supposed enemy in his.
rear, there is similarly fortified sec
ton of woodwork.
ale is securely hitched to this ap-
pliance, which is made to move on
wheels, and is then driven around the
farm. The first impulse of the buffalo.
as he feels himself dragged along
against his will by force that he can
not resist, is to lower his horns and let
drive with blind rage al the woodwork
in front of him. After he has tried this
eNpedient for half an hour or so and
finds That he has made no impression on
the enemy, while his own horns have
been pretty nearly demolished in the at
tack, he reasons with himself, after the
buffalo manner, that at last he has met
more than his match. and decides to
adopt different methods of attack.
Then the hoofs come into action. IL
is not very easy thing for him TO use
these latter means of otfense, as the
merciless wagon is driven round and
round the farm, and he has little chance
of using his hoofs except for the natural
process of trotting. When he does get
a chance he lets them fly at the fortified
woodwork behind him, and hurts him
self SO badly that he doesn't try itugain
until the pain has worn away.
III he has still some fight left in him
by that time he returns to the attack
and keeps it up until worn out. It is
sQ l1oln that Nva find - vaoaee. as. -.