The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1899-10-06
Che Rereforo
Ed. CHANUTE TIMES:


discussion concerning the merits OF
the Short Horn and Hereford cattle.
you also made claims for the Short
Horns which can not accept, or let
pass without protest.
l had hoped that some other Here
ford breeder who has the ability to
produce better argument than l can
would take up the defense, but as no
one has responded l will take up the
cagel. But first l wish to state that
1 am not writing this to create dis
cussion, but merely as rebuttdl.
The writer first says: "both breeds
have great merit" to this agree.
Then he says, "the Short Horns have
better beef qualities and are better
mixers" This is very broad asser-
tion, especially when it is impossible
for any breed to excel in both beef and
milk A COW is simply machine
which converts the raw material (her
feed into finished article either beef
or milk, but never both to any degree
of superiority. There is no such a
thing as general purpose cow, except
in the minds of a few people: if she
has any merits at all she will excel in
one to the detriment of the other.
The physique of the two classes is diff
ferent and easily distinguished by a
judge of cattle. Ard, now, Mr.. Ed
itor as L do not wish to be ridiculous
or selfish by claiming both qualities
for the Herefords, | will give you the
milk, but the beef, never
Our demonstrative claims for the
Herefords over all other breeds of beef
cattle are earlier maturity. This is
marked advantage to the breeder.
Who wants to keep steer 4 or 8 years
before it is ready for the market?
This was considered the right age IS
years ago; then the Short Horns were
strictly in it for it takes or years
to mature an animal with as coarse
bones and long legs as most Short
Horns, but thanks to the fat stock
shows it has been proven that cattle
can and should be ready for the mark
ct at from to 3 years old, that the
meat is better, the waste less, the pro-
fit to the feeder greater and also that
bone is not edible and an animal with
a superfuity of it never wins a prize
at the block. While do not claim all
the prizes for the Herefords al these
shows they win majority of them.
You say the Herefords are harder
and better hustlers; that is true and is
another proof that they are better
beef cattle for what can be expected
from delicate animal with a tickle
appetite here in the west where all
cattle have to rough it more or less?
And especially do they show their
on the range being healthy
and in good flesh while other cat
tie in the same herd suffer and some
times die.
The Herefords may find a reader
sale and be the popular fad but they
have won this by their true worth and
the untiring efforts of their owners,
by the attacks of Short
Horn breeders and their allies.
Ny Grandfather imported the first
Hereford cattle in Ohio from England
in 1852 and my father the first in
Southern Kansas in 1882 and we have
ALWAYS foundthat they were benefited
more than injured by such attacks for
it caused stock raisers to test and in
vesJigate their claimed merits and
will! say right here that l have never
known or heard of a stockman who
ever retained the Short Horns for
beef after giving both breeds an equal
and unprejudiced test. But if the
display of the two breeds in
question. one being stall fed and spec
tally fixed for show the other brought
right in from pasture, at the Chanute
fair has forever obliterated the fame
that the Herefords have won at the |
fat stock shows at Chicago, Kansas |
City ard Omaha. the expositions at |
Chicago and Omaha and other impor-
mt places, then my effort in their
defense is in vain, but if there is still |
a reader unconvinced after the Short
Horn "boost" at the fair and also by
this paper l will refer him to few
of ourlocal stockmen all of which have
both kinds of cattle: d. L. Houston.
H. Montague, j. j. MCGOWAN & Sou,
S. W. Sturdevant & Son. Chas. Foetish
d. B. Rush, w. II. Edwards, w. G.
Smith, S. Swanson, John Kelley and
Chas. Eklund.
And now in conclusion | wish it I'M
derstuod that have written nothing
intending to offend or anger anyone
or to damage any breed of. cattle but
to substantiate my belief that the
Herefords are the best beef cattle in
the world.
sincerely thank the editor for his