The Norfolk weekly news. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1888-1900, 1899-10-26

HEREFORD BULL.
that the price OF beef was bound to
soon take n big jump upward, and thar
the supply would be unable to meet
the demand.
Various reasons are given for this
alleged or real shortage. Onc of these
reasons, but II which manifcstly has
no foundation, Is that the supply was
depleted by the great demand Of the
government for beef during the war.
This reason Is not worth considering,
rs everybody knows that the volun-
tccr soldiers would have eaten rs
much beef, If not considerably more,
had they remained In civil life thar
they consumed In the army. Another
reason which might account for n
temporary shortage Is the almost
complete failure of grass on the ranges
throughout Nevada and Utah, and in
much of Montana, Arizona and New
Mexico. Two weeks ago, within the
boundaries of these states, it was said
that not one herd of cattle was left in
either Nevada or Utah.
Unuuestionably the most potent rea-
son for Il general decrease in the beef
product is the gradual Increase in the
sheep raising industry. Sheep are
gradually superCeding cattle on many
of the great ranges. This Is due mainly
to the fact that sheep can always com
pete successfully with cattle in graz
ing on the same ground; they find food
where cattle have just graZed: but, on
the other hand, they crop the grass so
closely that there Is no fodder left for
cattle coming after them. In very large
districts, therefore, sheep have grad
ually replaced cattle. The plains have
been overgrazcd, and sheep have been
crowding cattle out. The result is "A
large diminution of cattle in some of
the range states. In Wyoming, for OK
ample, the number of cattle in 1898
was only n little owe half that of the
years between 1856 and 1892.
Another reason which tends to in
crcas the prices of beef is the intro
duction of better blood, thus producing
better beef, for which Il better price is
naturally demanded. On many Of the
ranges Herefords, Galloways, Short
horns and Aberdeen Anguses are being
crossed with the native cattle, with the
result that a higher class product il
coming into the market.
A new element is being introduced
into the beef trade which may perhaps
have n bearing, though possibly slight,
on the market. This is pony beef
The term, however, Is n misnomer.
Baby beef more appropriately ap-
plies to the delicious, tender meat OF
the cattle that are too old for veal and
too young for packers. If the equine
diminutive is to be used, 'pony steers
would be better.
However he may be classcd in the
market reports or whatever he MAY
he called on %cpicurean menus. the fat
ted calf that has just come out of
northern Colorado Is n distinct PROPOSE.
tion that hereafter must be considered
seriously by stock ~raisers. The Colo
rado calf, or the calf to which the
Colorado method has been applied, has
demonstrated his right TO be classed
among the industries of that great
state. He will not be headed off, and
each successive year he will demand
more rope.
In northern Colorado a few wise
stockmen who always cross brains
with Drawn last year conceived the
idea of utilizing the calf for something
more than veal. They concluded TO
enter him as n yearling and not To keep
him for the futurity beef stakes. They
proposed to make him n distinct entity.
instead of turning him out ON the
range to lose his individuality.
AS northern Colorado has been first
in lamb feeding, SO il is now first in
calf feeding. The sheep industry in
that region has been built up TO n mag.
nitude that has made it famous and
wealthy, and now that section has es
tablished a new stock interest thai
promises TO duplicate or exceed the
success of the sheep proposition, fol-
it goes without saying that If calves
can be converted into fine beef tina
will realize $40 or more a head befor,
they are a year old stockmen will fine
calf fattening a most profitable bust
ness, bringing. as II must, a quick re
turn on the money invested.
HENRY ATwATER.